Shortly before Christmas, Klaus and Christian Müller from Horbach Industriebedarf GmbH brought good news for the Idar-Oberstein City Youth Welfare Office's Children's Relief Fund: to mark the company's 100th anniversary, the managing directors asked for donations for the relief fund instead of gifts and also topped up the amount received themselves. This raised an impressive total of 4,250 euros, which has now been handed over to Lord Mayor Frank Frühauf and Claudia Hey and Sabine Moser from the City Youth Welfare Office.
The municipal children's aid fund has been in existence since 2002 and can be used to quickly and unbureaucratically resolve financial emergencies for children and young people or their families. It is used when state benefits are not available or are insufficient. The fund is financed exclusively by donations and money from legal proceedings. The funds are not part of the municipal budget and are managed by two employees of the City Youth Welfare Office, Claudia Hey and Sabine Moser. Applications can be submitted by specialist staff from daycare centers, schools and other institutions and youth welfare organizations. This ensures that the help reaches those affected directly.
"Child poverty is a major issue, even here in our region," emphasized Sabine Moser at the donation handover. This year, 11,000 euros have already been spent from the children's aid fund. This could be a missing pair of winter shoes so that a child can attend school in cold weather, or the parents' own contribution to a school trip that they cannot afford. "These are often relatively small amounts that can be used to help. Among other things, this enables the children to participate in social life," added Claudia Hey.
"I would like to thank the Müller family and the donors very much for this fantastic support from the Children's Relief Fund," explained Lord Mayor Frank Frühauf. The use of the money from the fund proves that help is also needed here locally. "Being based at the Youth Welfare Office ensures that the funds reach the children and young people directly and on a one-to-one basis," said the Mayor. He hopes that the example of the Horbach company will be emulated and that other sponsors will support this important institution.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Children's Relief Fund can use the following bank details of the Idar-Oberstein municipal treasury: Kreissparkasse Birkenfeld, IBAN DE30 5625 0030 0000 0008 25, or Vereinigte Volksbank Raiffeisenbank eG, IBAN DE81 5606 1472 0006 7169 58. Please state "Product 36310.3791002 - Children's Relief Fund" as the intended purpose.