Our help counts: 158 855 euros: HZ readers donate a record amount in the Corona year

It should actually be a year in which a lot is moving and renewing on the HZ donation portal. The big milestone of one million euros in total donations since the establishment of “Our Help Counts” should be celebrated in summer at the latest. And there should be a new offer for clubs: They should no longer only be able to advertise for donations on the HZ portal, but also for time. Time in the form of help from committed citizens.

Helpers and clubs should come together online in a modern way – similar to a partner search for socially committed people. Everything was prepared, the technology was in place, but then Corona came and threw everything upside down. What happened to the organizing team of “Our Help Counts” with its agenda happened to everyone, as is well known.

The first Corona campaign in April

It quickly became clear in March that the lockdown would not only affect gastronomy, retail, the self-employed and professional cultural workers, but also most of the clubs in the district. No events could take place, hardly a course could be offered, the social came to a standstill and with it the most important sources of income for most groups: festivals, markets, stage performances, advisory services, training. But because costs continue to run, loans have to be paid off and leases transferred, the decisive question soon arose: How is that supposed to work?

As early as April, “Our Help Counts” started the first big fundraising campaign of the year for associations that threatened to get into need because of Corona. Within a few weeks, HZ readers donated almost 30,000 euros for this campaign. A company in Heidenheim sold masks and donated part of the proceeds to “Our help counts”. A four-digit sum also flowed to the portal from a private sewing campaign. And it shouldn’t stay that way.

Calls for help from abroad

Even in summer, usually a low-funded period, sizeable sums of money were received every month. And towards autumn it became clear: It is not just about helping clubs that implement their projects in the district. It is also about the groups that stand up for disadvantaged people abroad. The HZ received calls for help from several initiatives from Heidenheim and the surrounding area, which have been working for children and young people in Nepal, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ghana and Lithuania for years.

While people in Germany were talking about the adversities for those returning from vacation, in the villages in Africa the focus was on where to get food and how to continue schools after the person who had looked after everything there alone for years Corona had passed away. These projects were also part of the campaign in Advent that the Kreissparkasse Heidenheim has made possible for “Our help counts” every year since 2013.

HZ readers donated a total of almost 160,000 euros

As turbulent as this year started with “Our Help Counts”, the outcome is now remarkable. Because: HZ readers donated a total of more than 158,000 euros, the limit of one million euros in total donations was exceeded faster than expected in the spring, and with 95,000 euros during Advent it was the largest sum that has been redeemed in an Advent campaign since 2015.

For the first time there was also no doubling of donations. Instead, three donation winners were chosen every week. A total of twelve projects received a grant of 1000 or 500 euros from the Kreissparkasse Heidenheim. The Sparkasse also selected another four projects after the campaign had ended in order to give them a corona bonus (see below).

The Sparkasse supported the campaign with a total of 10,000 euros and again this year assumed all transaction costs that arise from donations. This enables 100 percent of every donation to be passed on without deductions.

Donation receipts in February, reports on projects in January

It is still unclear when the original plans for “Our Help Counts” can continue. One thing is certain, however: from now on, non-profit associations from the Heidenheim district can post appeals for donations and donations to these associations are still possible via the portal at any time. Even after the Advent campaign has ended, there are numerous groups that need further help.

And whether donors support a project locally or abroad – a donation receipt for all donations made by December 31, 2020 will be sent by email in February 2021. And as early as January, the HZ will be able to read which projects, how and in which direction, thanks to the generosity of HZ readers.