2023-11-11 07:53:40
Status date: November 11, 2023. Authors: Julian Beimdiecke
Image: DPA | Carmen Jaspersen
Christmas time is a time for donations: some campaigns are also starting up in Bremen, Bremerhaven and the surrounding area just in time for the festival. An overview.
During the Christmas season, the willingness to donate is traditionally high in Germany: According to the German Donation Council, around a fifth of the total annual donations are collected in the month of December. It’s no wonder that a number of fundraising campaigns are being organized at Christmas – there are also a lot planned in Bremen, Bremerhaven and the surrounding area.
1 Christmas in a shoebox
A classic Christmas campaign is “Christmas in a Shoebox”. Anyone who wants to take part fills a shoebox with small child-friendly gifts such as toys, school supplies or even a larger gift such as a doll or a football. Practical things like towels or hygiene products are also in demand. The packed shoeboxes can be dropped off at several locations in Bremen and the surrounding area and from there make their way to children in Eastern Europe. Those wanting to donate have to hurry: shoeboxes will be accepted until November 15th.
However, the campaign has come under criticism in recent years: The US aid organization behind the “Samaritan’s Purse” campaign was accused of aggressively proselytizing for Christianity and of representing homophobic views. “Samaritan’s Purse” denied this.
2 Ahoi Caritas: Project Just have a say
In the past, Caritas Bremen has also repeatedly collected donations at Christmas through its Ahoi foundation fund – sometimes for the benefit of the homeless, sometimes for the benefit of senior citizens. This year, Caritas is collecting money for its “Simply have a say” project: This is about integrating people who don’t yet speak much German and who should now gain practical experience with other learners and specialists. “We are primarily collecting donations for the project, but if anyone would like to volunteer, we would be happy to do so,” says Caritas spokeswoman Simone Lause.
3 Your feast
A feast for people who otherwise cannot afford a feast will be served in the ÖVB Arena on December 12th: the association of the same name invites those in need to a pre-Christmas meal there. In order to be able to do this, the organizers are asking for monetary donations as well as helping hands for set-up, dismantling and the rest. Doctors, hairdressers, veterinarians and other service providers are also wanted. Traditionally, the volunteers are also supported by celebrities who lend a hand.
4 Delmenhorst wish tree
Children from low-income families in Delmenhorst should receive a Christmas present – at least that is the goal of the city administration. For this reason, children were able to hand in their Christmas wish lists to the city’s family and children’s services office until the end of October. Now it’s the turn of adults who can and want to donate: They can look at the wishes submitted, choose them and, in the best case scenario, fulfill them. The corresponding gifts will only be accepted until Tuesday, November 14th. You can support the project all year round with monetary donations.
5 Christmas gift trees for seniors
There is a similar campaign in Bremerhaven – but this is aimed at seniors: the organizers have hung Christmas wishes from older people that they had previously collected on a “wish fulfillment tree” in Mosebachhalle 3. Visitors who pass by the hall can then pick and fill them. The hall is always open on November weekends, when Christmas decorations are also sold there. Curious: The campaign is organized by Bremerhaven Pet Supply.
6 Ukraine Aid from the Evangelical Church
The Bremen Evangelical Church has set itself a real donation challenge: After being able to send 12,000 bags full of small gifts for children to Ukraine last year with the support of many donors, this year there are plans to send even more: the target is a whopping 15,000 bags. Anyone who wants to help achieve this can pick up a bag from Chapter 8 on Domsheide until the beginning of December, fill it with sweets, hygiene products and socks, for example, and then hand it back in.
7 JVA Oslebshausen gift campaign
Christmas is also celebrated in prison – so that it can be somewhat festive, the prison chaplains at the Bremen-Oslebshausen JVA have decided to prepare small Christmas bags with coffee, pastries and sweets for the prisoners. They are asking for monetary donations – self-packed bags cannot be accepted for security reasons.
8 Christmas Aid fundraising campaign
For 25 years now, the Weser Kurier has been collecting donations for needy children in Bremen together with the social department. The organizers don’t just rely on donations from individuals and companies: money is also raised through charity concerts, circus performances, auctions and other activities. With success: 2,700 applications for financial support were received last year and more than 1,200 were fulfilled.
More about donations:
This topic in the program:
Bremen Eins, The Morning, November 9, 2023, 7:40 a.m
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