VAHLE fundraising campaign brings in 15,000 euros for the children's and youth hospice in Unna
Employees and suppliers are actively involved in promoting opportunities for families with seriously ill children and young people to meet and exchange ideas.
VAHLE is continuing its long-standing commitment to the Outpatient Children's and Youth Hospice Service (AKHD) in the Unna district. This year's fundraising campaign raised a total of 15,000 euros. Not only VAHLE employees actively participated, for example with an Advent cake bazaar, but the company's suppliers also supported the initiative. The donation will be used to finance meeting and discussion programmes for children and young people with life-shortening illnesses and their families. The symbolic cheque was handed over at the beginning of January.
"Instead of giving gifts at the turn of the year, we invited our suppliers to set an example together and support this heartfelt project, which has always been particularly close to our hearts as a company and our employees," emphasises Achim Dries, Managing Director of Paul Vahle GmbH & Co.
In the run-up to Christmas, the HR department of the Kamen-based company organised various campaigns to collect donations. An Advent cake bazaar raised over 800 euros, and a further 1,600 euros were collected at the staff meeting. Suppliers were also actively involved for the first time: The companies Licatec Profilextrusion GmbH, Dressel GmbH, TKD Kabel GmbH, Murtfeldt GmbH & Co KG, Arcaprofil Spa, Maschinenbau Stock GmbH, Stahltec GmbH, Hydro Extrusion Deutschland and Karl-Josef Schulte GmbH & Co KG donated a total of 5,800 euros. VAHLE topped up this amount to a total of 15,000 euros.
The donations support meetings, dialogue opportunities and joint activities for children and young people with life-shortening illnesses and their families. In addition, some of the funds will be used to remodel a special relaxation area, a so-called Snoezel room. The specially designed room with soft lighting elements, calm music and pleasant fragrances creates a cosy atmosphere and enables people with disabilities to relax and experience sensory perception. The symbolic cheque was handed over to Nadine Franke, a member of the AKHD's public relations team.
The AKHD has been supporting young people with life-shortening illnesses and their families since 2004, from diagnosis to after death. The programme includes self-help groups, grief counselling, breakfasts and other activities that relieve the burden on relatives and create space for shared moments. The support is mainly provided by volunteers who support families at home or in residential facilities.
"Around 70 per cent of hospice work is financed by donations. This made it all the more important for us to do something good together with our suppliers," emphasises Achim Dries. AKHD Kreis Unna currently supports 58 families with the help of 77 volunteers.
