With Valentine's Day around the corner, couples everywhere are rushing to pick up the classics for their beloveds: roses, chocolate, jewelry, the works. And while there's nothing wrong with tried and true tokens of true romance, it often pays to think outside the proverbial box. This year, whether you're thinking ahead or are looking for a last minute heartfelt gift, consider giving your loved one something that will also help those in greater need and will pay forward over the long term. The SickKids Get Better Gifts program offers a symbolic alternative to traditional gift-giving and highlights a a meaningful way of showing someone you care, while making a positive impact on children and families at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto. It’s a great way to honour friends and loved ones while supporting families and children with serious illnesses or injuries. For instance, you can give the gift of Valentine's Day craft supplies. For $20, (purchased through their website), you can help provide arts and crafts supplies so patients can beam with pride when they share their special handmade Valentines with mom and dad. Check out their entire list of heartfelt gifts here. Still not certain if this is the right gift for you? Perhaps these stats may help:

• Congenital heart defects are among the most common birth defect. Each year, about 1 out of every 100 babies born has a heart defect.

• Of the children requiring cardiac surgery at SickKids, 21 per cent are under a month old and 40 per cent are under a year old.

•  Each year in Ontario alone, SickKids performs more than 85 per cent of paediatric cardiovascular surgery.

• The Labatt Family Heart Centre is one of the largest paediatric heart transplant centres in the world.