![](http://www.rescue.org/sites/default/files/main_gift_winter_warmth.jpg?1387670939)
When cold weather sets in after a catastrophe, protection from the elements can spell the difference between life and death—especially for families who have lost everything
Today is the first day of winter.
When cold weather sets in after a catastrophe, protection from the elements can spell the difference between life and death—especially for families who have lost everything. Last winter, the IRC distributed 70,000 lifesaving emergency kits to Syrian families uprooted by war, including protective sheeting, warm blankets, mattresses, woolen socks, and insulated boots and clothing. $114 can help a family in a place like Syria survive the harsh winter.