Variety – The Children’s Charity Comes to Delaware

Variety - The Children's Charity is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with disabilities through programs and services. These programs and services are designed to address a child's physical, social, medical, educational, and recreational needs without regard for economic status, race, creed, gender, or type of disability.

Variety of Greater Philadelphia has been serving children with physical and developmental disabilities since 1935. On March 28, 2005, Variety opened an office in Delaware.

Variety offers various programs and initiatives including Direct Care for Kids. Direct Care is a last resort medical program for families in need. This program provides necessary medical equipment for children whose insurance companies refuse coverage. Variety ensures that families and children receive equipment such as wheelchairs, prostheses, car seats, and educational/recreational components- all of which help to better a child's life.

Direct Care for Kids is a volunteer administered program. Physical therapists, children's hospitals and clinics, and other health care professionals contact Variety on behalf of the child in need of durable medical equipment and devices. Variety then obtains the best price from several vendors, places the order, and the equipment is delivered directly to the child's home. There is never a fee charged to the family or hospital.

In this age of managed care health systems and the cost-cutting measures that are epidemic, children with disabilities that need specialized equipment often fall through the cracks. Managed care will often pay a small portion, or none, of the cost of equipment such as wheelchairs, standers, and walkers. The Direct Care Program bridges that gap and gets the equipment directly to the children and their families.

Contact the Delaware division of Variety at (302) 993-0896 or visit them online at www.varietyphila.org.