BZ readers, companies, banks and associations have again donated generously: a total of 1.11 million euros were raised for social institutions and people in need.
Although there were hardly any events in favor of the BZ Christmas wish campaign due to the corona, the amount of donations in 2021 exceeded the record sums of the previous year in many places. A total of 1.11 million euros were raised (after 1.24 million euros in 2020). The money goes mainly to social institutions that provide direct and quick support to people in need. And, as feedback shows, this is particularly important in the pandemic.
Lahr / Ortenau: It is a special moment for the editorial team and the regional publisher: In the 46th year of its existence in the Ortenau, the BZ Christmas wish campaign has exceeded a total of one million euros in total income. For the second time in a row, a record annual result that is twice the pre-Corona period contributed to this. It is already foreseeable that it will again be well over 70,000 euros in 2021. The money goes mainly to social institutions that support people who need help.
Emmendingen: The record result from the previous year was again exceeded by a significant margin. This time, a total of 150,216 euros was raised in the “Help to help” fundraising campaign in the Emmendingen district. Many BZ readers took part again with donations between five and several hundred euros, as well as companies and banks with well-known large donations. Even a circus helped so that Christmas wishes could be fulfilled in over 850 cases just before Christmas. Before the festival, the needy received 42,000 euros; at the start of the year, other types of financial emergencies can now be alleviated. Selected social projects in the district also receive support.
Southern Breisgau: The readers in southern Breisgau also showed a big heart for people in need. By January 3rd, 105,347 euros had been raised. This means that last year’s result – 100,000 euros were reached for the first time in 2020 – has already been exceeded by more than 3000 euros. Individual donations are still being received. In addition to the many individual donations from BZ readers, as every year Volksbank Staufen and Sparkasse Staufen-Breisach contributed to this record result. The members of the Krozinger Citizens’ Forum have again collected a substantial sum. One reader had a special idea: She knitted socks and donated the proceeds from the sale.
Freiburg: Also in the second Corona winter, many solidarity BZ readers in Freiburg contributed to a great result: 458,764 euros were raised. That is a little less than the exceptional record result a year ago, but apart from that, it is the largest sum ever achieved in the Christmas wish campaign. And that is all the more remarkable because the conditions were more difficult compared to the times before Corona: For the second time, there were no concerts and other benefit campaigns, nor the auction that used to take place in the Jazzhaus.
Lörrach: It just couldn’t be topped: After the record result in 2020 with more than 230,000 euros in donations, “Hilfe zum Helfen” in the district of Lörrach has so far reported a donation total of around 182,000 euros. That is still a remarkable result and a lot of money with which we can support institutions such as the Erich Reisch House or the women’s refuge in Lörrach as well as people who are in need. The total donation is particularly gratifying because no events could take place and therefore both the popular raffle at the Lörrach Christmas market and the “Night of Sounds” in the courtyard had to be canceled. At least for the latter, there was an alternative: eight regional music schools created an 80-minute concert video under the title “Sounds of the Region”.
Muellheim: In the case of “Freude am Helfen” in Müllheim, 51,840 euros have been raised so far. A good result – even if it does not quite come close to last year’s record result. In Müllheim, the campaign will continue for a while, until around the end of January. The donations are usually private individual donations, but there have also been some generous donations from companies and associations in the region.
Hochschwarzwald: Thanks to the great support from readers in the Upper Black Forest and from associations, authorities and companies around Feldberg and Hochfirst, the social services can help many old, sick and disabled people as well as families in need quickly and unbureaucratically in the New Year. Due to the pandemic, major campaigns and concerts had to be dispensed with in the run-up to Christmas this year in favor of the “Christmas wish campaign”. Nevertheless, the BZ readers donated the impressive sum of 61,375 euros. As in the past 33 years, Caritas, the Diakonisches Werk, the Red Cross, the Arbeiterwohlfahrt and Lebenshilfe will specifically support people in need in individual cases when there is no other “official” option available at short notice.
Bad Säckingen: Donations are still coming in, which the local editorial team in Bad Säckingen has been organizing for years in cooperation with the social associations Caritas, Arbeiterwohlfahrt and Diakonie. As of Friday it was 33,000 euros that readers on the Upper Rhine donated for the “People in Need” campaign. Thanks a lot for this! And that, although no events could take place in 2021 either. The willingness to donate is to be assessed all the higher, which reached a record in the previous year of around 50,000 euros by February – despite or because of Corona.
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