Volkshilfe initiative

Gift campaign for poor children and children at risk of poverty

Volkshilfe President Verena Dunst (right) with child poverty expert Hanna Lichtenberger.

(Bild: Volkshilfe Burgenland)

Volkshilfe Burgenland" is once again making children's eyes light up at Christmas. You too can play Santa Claus!

Across Austria, 376,000 children and young people are affected by poverty. 75,000 girls and boys under the age of 17 live in families that are unable to keep their homes adequately warm. 379,000 live in a household that cannot afford a vacation.

In Burgenland too, 7000 young people aged between 0 and 24 are affected by poverty and social exclusion. To make them happy at Christmas, Volkshilfe Burgenland is launching the "Burgenland schenkt" initiative for the sixth time in a row.

Children and young people from well-off families can usually look forward to receiving several presents at Christmas. For those from socially disadvantaged families, there is often not even one present under the Christmas tree.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com)

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From now until 16 December, donors can fulfill the children's wishes anonymously and hand in the gifts they have bought, wrapped in Christmas packaging and bearing the child's name, at twelve locations throughout Burgenland. A QR code can be found at the drop-off locations and can be scanned to register where the package was dropped off. Volkshilfe then collects the parcels and delivers them in good time.

On the very first day, 450 wishes arrived - a new record! Donations and admission to the "Rap Battle" on December 5 in Vienna will also benefit the campaign.

More at www.burgenlandschenkt.at