Collaboration with Omitama City, Kitaibaraki City, Tsukuba City, and Ami Town for Childcare Support: Cooperating on Birth Congratulatory Gifts and Childcare Info [Ibaraki, Tochigi]

Consumers' Co-operative Pal System Ibaraki Tochigi (Headquarters: Baika, Mito City; President: Yasuyo Aoki) and Omitama City (Mayor: Kozo Shimada), Kitaibaraki City (Mayor: Minoru Toyoda), Tsukuba City (Mayor: Tatsuo Igarashi), and Ami Town (Mayor: Shigeru Chiba) have concluded an agreement regarding childcare support. Through the collaboration between local governments and the consumer co-op, they will promote the creation of an environment where anyone in the region can raise children with peace of mind and all children can grow up healthily.

### Gifts including Pal System Original Products
Based on the agreement, each local government will distribute information cards for congratulatory gifts such as "Omedeto Bako" (Congratulation Box) or "Hagukumi Gift" (Nurturing Gift), which are packed with childcare items, during baby visits by public health nurses or midwives, or at infant health checkups. The birth celebration gifts include Pal System's original food products, baby wipes, and a mini-guide useful for making baby food.

When a household wishing to receive the gift applies via the QR code on the information card, Pal System, which provides childcare support services, will visit to hand-deliver the present. They will also deliver information on childcare support systems provided by the local administration and collaborating consultation counters, thereby expanding the circle of watchfulness over households raising children.

A signing ceremony for the agreement with Omitama Town was held at the town hall on Monday, March 30. At the signing ceremony, President Aoki commented, "This is a great opportunity for the local administration and the regional consumer co-op to cooperate and expand the circle of mutual support."