Preschooler sacrifices gifts for Meals on Wheels

By Ivanha Paz on April 6, 2017

Kerri Ungaro and her son Dominic have been giving back to the community for several years. — Ivanha Paz photo

Ridgefielder Kerri Ungaro knows the importance of giving back, but she wants her children to know it, too.

By inspiring her children to help those in need, she is hoping to start a trend.

Her son, Dominic, turned 5 in February, but he didn’t want gifts this year. Instead, he was happy for his friends from Enchanted Garden Preschool to donate to Meals on Wheels — where he, along with his mom and two older siblings, volunteer delivering food once a month.

“He got on board really fast,” said Ungaro. ”He’s been delivering to Meals on Wheels with me for almost three years.”

Ungaro told The Press that her kids get invited to about 30 parties a year, which account for a few hundred dollars in gifts.

“Almost everyone has a party and they invite the whole class,” she said.

“So figure $20 per gift for each party, you’re talking several hundred dollars that could be repurposed for something much more valuable.”

She explained that since Ridgefield is such a privileged community, oftentimes gifts are redundant — items that children already have — and that it’s common practice to re-gift at other parties.

She came up with the idea of donating, and saw an opportunity to keep on teaching her children about helping the community.

Ungaro believes that that’s everyone’s responsibility, and she wants her kids to know it from an early age.

Read the entire article here at the Ridgefield Press.