U.S. Embassy Belgrade Welcomes the Holiday Season

Belgrade, January 13. 2012.

Marines posted at U.S. Embassy Belgrade delivered toys donated by the U.S. Embassy community to the children

Marines posted at U.S. Embassy Belgrade delivered toys donated by the U.S. Embassy community to the children

In the spirit of holiday giving and service, U.S. Embassy Belgrade took part in several activities in recent weeks to celebrate the holiday season. On January 5, U.S. Embassy Belgrade hosted a holiday gift-giving event with the children of the Center for Children Without Parental Care “Dragutin Filipovic- Jusa.” Members of the Embassy Community purchased gifts for the orphanage’s thirty-one children and presented them to the children in a holiday celebration at the Embassy two days before Orthodox Christmas.

On January 7, Christmas Day for those celebrating according to the Julian calendar, Ambassador Warlick joined Princess Katarina Karadjordjevic and representatives of the diplomatic community in an event organized for 120 children from the Center for the Protection of Children and Youth “Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj.” Ambassador Warlick and other participants served the children a Christmas dinner prepared by the local culinary association “Culinaria.”

Lastly, Marines posted at U.S. Embassy Belgrade delivered toys donated by the U.S. Embassy community to the children at the Center for the Protection of Newborns, Small Children, and Youth on Zvecanska street on January 13. They also visited the Red Cross and donated clothes collected by the Embassy community. This U.S. Marines activity is an example of the Toys for Tots Program, in which Marines stationed at U.S. embassies around the world collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November, and December, then distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the local community.