Overwhelming response to Christmas parcels: Presents distributed to refugee families
Chemnitz children's homes are also still being considered today
The response was huge: Chemnitz residents packed over 1,100 Christmas parcels, large and small, for the "Christmas parcels for refugees" campaign. Over the past few days, the presents were delivered to Christmas parties in care homes, shared accommodation centres and to refugee families in Chemnitz as an early Christmas present - and the joy was immense.
"The parcel campaign is a great success," says Cornelia Utech, Head of the Social Welfare Department. Many families were very moved, some cried with joy. The parcels make it possible for them to give their children a present for Christmas for the first time."
All the refugee families have now received presents. For the few parcels that are still in Santa's warehouse in the town hall due to the great willingness to donate, the social services department has a great idea: these parcels will be distributed to girls and boys in children's homes in Chemnitz: KJF residential groups, the children's youth emergency service and the "Villa Geborgenheit" mother and child home are still collecting presents from Father Christmas at the town hall today.
Background to the parcel campaign for refugees
The majority of the more than 1000 parcels were lovingly packed by citizens and delivered to the town hall or Moritzhof. The admissions service even accepted the parcels outside of opening hours, and a kindergarten group brought presents. The employees of Chemnitz institutions also packed presents for children and adults: 40 gifts for refugee children came from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Employees of the Chamber of Crafts placed a total of 20 parcels for the refugees under a Christmas tree set up in the chamber. Students from Chemnitz University of Technology collected around 70 parcels together with the Chemnitz-Zwickau Student Union. The city sports association packed 20 parcels each for young and old and also handed over sports equipment to the city. The state-owned company Sächsisches Immobilien- und Baumanagement came to the town hall to hand over 90 presents, which the employees had lovingly put together. GGG also donated 20 gifts for children and adults.