BY CAROL H .
With its motto “ together we heal , shine , and learn ,” we honored World Refugee Day this year by visiting Hanseatic Help e . V ., our local charity . Ten AWCH members met at the Hanseatic Help headquarters on June 19 to hear the exciting story of the organization ’ s founding in 2015 but also to understand how the charity continues to serve the many people in need in Hamburg .
The great influx of refugees from Syria and Iraq into Germany in 2015 was met with an overwhelmingly positive response in Hamburg , as people donated food , clothing , and services to help the refugees . Hanseatic Help e . V . was born when a small but dedicated group of the volunteers saw the need to set up a logistical system to manage this outpouring of goods and donations . The charity provides uncomplicated , fast , and reliable aid to people in need by providing an IT-based , charitable supply chain that accepts donations of goods ( primarily clothing ), identifies where there is a need , and organizes distribution ; it regularly supplies around 150 facilities catering to the needy in Hamburg .
The director of logistics , Manu Szepan , guided us through the warehouse facility in Altona , explaining the various stations in which donations are sorted and registered , and relaying her own personal accounts of how Hanseatic Help serves refugees and the homeless beyond the distribution of clothes by providing integration and training programs . In addition , she explained , although Hanseatic Help concentrates on helping people and organizations in Hamburg , extra supplies are also sent to refugee camps throughout the world using Hamburg ’ s logistical infrastructure . registering donations . This includes making baby quilts from recycled material , participating in their Hamburg Päckt Zusammen Drive , and helping out with their new Learning and Training Center .
In an overwhelming signal that AWCH was serious in its support of Hanseatic Help , we were able to present the organization with a check for € 4,000 for the purchase of women ’ s underwear , including over 300 bras ( see box ). We were proud to announce that through our Chocolate Roses project ( organized by Shelly S . and Rachel C .), our fitness courses ( Total Body Workouts by Julia R . and Zumba by Anne-Marie S .), individual member donations from our Call for Bras and Underwear , and proceeds from our Summer Challenge and book sale , we had raised € 2,000 . One generous AWCH member had promised to match our fundraising efforts if we reached € 1,250 , enough to purchase 500 pairs of underwear ; we were way beyond our goal and the money was matched ! The check was gratefully accepted by the Hanseatic Help representatives . The emotionally and positively charged meeting was truly a success .
“ Touring the Hanseatic Help facilities was a wonderful way to see first-hand how the AWCH ’ s fundraising efforts are put to use making real change within the
Following the tour of the warehouse , we enjoyed coffee and cookies and had the opportunity to ask questions . Philine Kruse , our Hanseatic Help liaison , was also on hand to explain programs where AWCH members can provide assistance , in addition to helping out with sorting and
Photos by Jennifer L .
14 AWCH News & Events Hanseatic Help