Holiday initiative aimed at granting festive wishes for senior citizens
Every Christmas season, the Grimlinghausener Sparkasse collaborates with local communities and volunteers to bring joy to the elderly residents of several senior homes in the area. This heartfelt project, known as the Christmas Wish Initiative, has been ongoing for five years and is spearheaded by Daniel and Vanessa Streek, a couple renowned for their commitment to social causes.
The senior homes, including Diakoniestift Norf, Elise-Averdieck-Haus, and Kronenhaus, provide wish lists with small gifts or items that their residents hope to receive for Christmas. The Sparkasse collects donations and organises volunteers to purchase and wrap these gifts, ensuring that each wish is fulfilled.
This initiative not only brings joy to the seniors but also fosters a strong sense of community spirit, connecting generations and highlighting the importance of caring for the elderly during the festive season. The gifts are collected and delivered on Christmas Eve to the homes, bringing a smile to the seniors' faces.
Interestingly, Daniel and Vanessa Streek also craft each wish into a wish tag card with the help of citizens. One of their creations, titled "No matter how far I am, I am always equally close to you," has been published through Sibost-Verlag as an everlasting calendar. However, it is important to note that this calendar is not connected to the wish collection and gift-giving process at Christmas time.
The wish collection and gift-giving process involves multiple parties: senior homes, citizens, Grimlinghausener Sparkasse, and the couple Daniel and Vanessa Streek. The staff of the senior homes collect a small Christmas wish from each senior and record them in anonymized lists. These wish tag cards are then hung on a wish Christmas tree at the Grimlinghausener Sparkasse, where anyone can take a card and fulfill the wish.
For more information about the calendar, visit the provided link. The calendar's story is written and illustrated by the Neusser. The Christmas Wish Initiative is a testament to the power of community spirit and the importance of caring for our elderly during the holiday season.
The Christmas Wish Initiative's success extends beyond the festive season, as Daniel and Vanessa Streek's creativity is showcased in the form of an everlasting calendar, titled "No matter how far I am, I am always equally close to you." Despite being unconnected to the wish collection and gift-giving process, it serves as a reminder of their commitment to fostering other lifestyle ideas, such as outdoor-living and home-and-garden, as evidenced in their published work. This initiative, initiated by the Grimlinghausener Sparkasse, not only promotes community engagement and connection but also emphasizes the importance of continuing to care for the elderly, as well as nurturing different lifestyles, throughout the year.
