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ChristmasShopping

Play it safe this holiday season

The holiday shopping season is upon us. The National Retail Federation estimates holiday sales for 2022 will be between $942.6 and $960.4 billion. Whether braving the crowds of deal-seeking shoppers in stores or enjoying the comfort of their homes while shopping online, many people may be shopping for toys.

The Toy Association™ estimated the U.S. market size for the toy industry was $38.19 billion in 2021. With so many options available, shopping for the perfect gift for your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or another special kid can be quite a daunting task.

While choosing toys that will excite and interest your loved ones is a key goal, it’s also important to be sure you’re selecting safe and age-appropriate toys. Don’t worry! There are many great resources available to guide you through the toy gift-giving process.

Playsafe.org is loaded with information, including extensive safety tips, an age-by-age toy-buying guide, and more!

The American Academy of Pediatrics provides these guidelines for buying safe toys.

Kidshealth.org offers additional advice on selecting safe and age-appropriate toys.

And, if you’re looking for specific toy suggestions, check out this site for a variety of lists and reviews to help you find toys by age, category, or interest.

West Bend associates deliver for United Way!

Truly taking this year’s campaign theme, “United! We reach the peak!” to heart, West Bend associates achieved record-high amounts for both associate participation and total money raised to support United Way.

Associates exhibited tremendous generosity as 70% participated, raising more than $409,000 to support the communities where they work and live! Both numbers impressively surpassed our goals of 50% participation and $300,000 raised. Associates contributed through a variety of ways, including pledges, silent auction, 50/50 raffle, and a “bags” tournament.

While the campaign focused on United Way of Washington County, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, and United Way of Dane County, associates were able to allocate their donations to their local United Way, regardless of location.

We’re so grateful for our associates’ generosity, and we’re inspired by their kindness and commitment to their communities.

Insurance for nonprofits: You help others; let West Bend help you!

As temperatures drop and the holidays approach, we know this can be a very busy time of year for many nonprofit and social service organizations. The valuable services you provide to your clients and communities are especially critical this time of year. Let West Bend protect your organization so you can focus on what you do best.

West Bend specializes in serving the insurance needs of organizations like yours. We understand the unique needs of your organization and know what it takes to protect it. When you purchase a policy from West Bend, you’ll receive competitive pricing and the peace of mind that comes with knowing that if something happens, you’ll be supported by claims representatives who are highly experienced in handling social service-type losses.

Our Social Service insurance program is specially designed for:

Adult day care
AODA treatment programs
Boys and Girls Clubs
Community action programs
Food pantries/Meals on Wheels
Head Start programs
Hospice care
Information and referral services
Senior centers
Sheltered workshops
United Way-type programs
Victims’ services
Women’s shelters

To design an insurance program that’s right for your organization, talk to a West Bend independent insurance agent.