Projects for the homeless
We have been active with various campaigns and events for homeless people since November 2020.
Support needed
A well-groomed appearance changes the way you look at yourself and how you are perceived by strangers
One of our ongoing projects is the distribution of food, hygiene products, sleeping bags, clothing, etc. to around 100 needy and homeless people on Sundays.
In this context, we would like to hire a mobile hairdresser once a quarter in 2024.
With this project we are trying to support these people together, stand by them, eradicate prejudices and increase self-esteem.
Please help us with your monetary donation, every euro counts
Review of Christmas 2023
Together with the Homeless Help Darmstadt group and many other great helpers, we were able to organize this beautiful festival. True to our motto, together we can make a difference!
Drinking water for the homeless
It is not easy for homeless people to get drinking water on a regular basis.
Thanks to numerous donations, we can regularly distribute drinks to the homeless in the current hot weather conditions.
Helping people help themselves
Cooking a simple meal is not something that many people take for granted
and yet so important for well-being and structure in everyday life. In order to achieve this, we will equip the so-called kitchen in an accommodation for homeless people with a stove and kitchen utensils. A volunteer will also regularly help with cooking.
Update: May 2023: The project was a complete success. follow pictures
Help for Hansi and Uwe
There is danger to life here
we urgently need your help!
We had to accommodate two homeless people in a hotel on Saturday because they probably wouldn't have survived Sunday night.
All other accommodations are fully occupied and the waiting lists are long.
It was minus 8 degrees and Hansi (Hans Jürgen Harke) is seriously ill. He has cancer and Parkinson's and only a few months to live.
His legs are now open and in this cold the pain is unbearable.
His best friend Uwe isn't much better off either. He already has frostbite on his right foot, which hopefully can be saved.
When we served coffee and tea at the main train station on Saturday evening, both men were already feeling very badly. We found her crying in the freezing cold train station. Both are constantly afraid of being thrown out of the station area again and having to sleep in the cold again. Unfortunately, this happens again and again.
They were in so much pain and their hands were already blue from the cold.
Luckily we got a double room in a hotel around the corner.
We have rarely seen such happy people. They were so grateful and happy because they knew it would be warm soon.
We absolutely have to keep her warm, alone, in order to be able to save Uwe's foot and to reduce Hansi's suffering during this difficult time. It is his last period of life as he does not have a good prognosis.
That's why we hope for your support! Please help us and them both.
UPDATE Thanks to the many donations, we were able to temporarily accommodate both of them in the hotel.
We say thank you
Lots of appreciation, joy and gratitude at the PIZZA ACTION for homeless people in Darmstadt! (09/26/2021)
We arrived at Europaplatz in Darmstadt on Sunday with a mixed group of new and old club members, as well as the team from the Mosbacher Holzofenstube. Everything went well from setup to dismantling and we were able to give out 250 freshly baked wood-fired pizzas to homeless people.
Drinks, snacks, animal food, hygiene products and sleeping bags were also readily accepted by those in need.
We received a lot of gratitude and praise, not only for the "material" part of the event, but also for the appreciation that our club always shows people. Organizing something so “big” for the “socially small” is something special. It shows recognition and gives hope.
The homeless people in Darmstadt also surprised one or two helpers: “The fact that everything is so peaceful and with a good atmosphere,” “You can feel the great gratitude shown to us as organizers,” “Many talk openly about their lives on the Street, without complaining, although their individual fates are really sad", "Despite the many people, there is no rubbish on the square that we would have to clear up afterwards", "I was not aware beforehand of the living conditions that people have to cope with" .
We are pleased that the entire campaign was organized primarily with donations in kind. The club only bought a few ingredients for the pizza. Donations in kind require a lot more work to prepare, but they are also more personal and individual than if we were to buy supplies with donations.
The private visit from Phoenix Devourer, who spontaneously supported the event musically, was just as personal and individual.
Ultimately, an incredible number of people were involved in the pizza campaign and we would like to thank them from the bottom of our hearts. Because of you, many people became happy that day!
Thanks to:
- the team from the Mosbacher Holzofenstube (mosbacher-holzofenstube.de) Phoenix Devourer (can be found e.g. on Facebook and Instergramm) CH-Böck factory outlet in Wersau (ch-boeck.de) private donors many club members and other volunteers and helpers
“Ourewäller Worscht and Bread”
for homeless people (February 15, 2021)
Our “Food for the Homeless” campaign has been running since December and many people continue to take part.
This also applies to the Hornung butcher shop from Reichenbach, which supports our campaign with a weekly donation.
Together we organized something special from the Odenwald this week: long-life sausages and canned sausages were supplemented with fresh sausage and ham!
There was fresh bread to go with it! Specially baked in appropriate portion sizes by the Horn bakery in Fränkisch-Crumbach!
We prepared 150 portions of “Ourewäller Worscht and Bread” over the weekend: sausage and ham cut, vacuum sealed and packed in bags. On Monday morning the freshly baked bread was sorted and everything was distributed directly to three contact points for the homeless in Darmstadt.
We would like to thank the Hornung butcher shop in Reichenbach and the Horn bakery in Fränkisch-Crumbach!
Food for the homeless - long-term campaign! (as of January 31, 2021)
Simply...
Donate non-perishable food to Herzensache Odenwald eV!
...do good!
Up to three times a week we travel to various homeless sleeping places in Darmstadt and the surrounding area.
...with great impact:
Every donation helps against hunger and at the same time gives a portion of sympathy and compassion. We do not turn away from poverty, we do not turn away from helplessness.
That's why we continue to collect canned stews, bagged soups, canned and long-life sausages, ready meals, canned fish,...
If you have any questions: Tel. 01573/6466554 (WhatsApp also possible!)
The address for your food donation:
A matter of the heart Odenwald eV
Bahnhofstr. 32
64395 Brensbach
Food for the homeless (as of January 20, 2021)
This all happened pretty quickly. Our first projection was for a shelter with 40 homeless people. Now we have three contact points with a good 200 people, who of course we don't want to leave hungry.
- The first food deliveries took place last week. On January 19th. The radio station HR3 reported on our campaign on January 20th. HR television accompanied us to a handover.
We continue to collect canned stews, bagged soups, canned and long-life sausages, ready meals, canned fish,...
Food for the homeless (as of January 10, 2021)
We brought a lot of joy with our Christmas campaign for the homeless. We personally also gained very sad insights into the lives of those affected. The opportunities for begging or collecting discarded returnable bottles have disappeared with the lockdown. It's sad enough that there are people who have to use this to get money for their food.
And now?
Back in December we had the idea of perhaps organizing a coffee and cake afternoon in a homeless shelter. But that's off the table because of the current situation. Now let's organize something real to eat! But what is “the right thing to do” given the limited cooking and storage options in such accommodation?
In the homeless shelter run by “Horizont eV” in Darmstadt, residents at least have the opportunity to prepare a simple meal. However, fresh food cannot be stored so well. So, to support the people there, we need: canned stews, packet soups, canned and long-life sausages, ready meals, canned fish,...
Anything that is durable and easy to prepare helps fight hunger!
Extrapolated: around 40 residents in the accommodation of Horizont eV, each with at least 3 canned foods per week, from mid-January to the end of February there would be over 700 non-perishable foods that we want to collect and distribute! A lofty goal for a small Odenwald association, but every can counts and we (and even more so those affected) are happy about your food donation. Please drop it off or send it by post to:
A matter of the heart Odenwald eV
Bahnhofstr. 32
64395 Brensbach
If you have any questions, the best way to reach us is by phone at 01573/6466554 (Whatsapp is also possible!)
Great response to the homeless campaign
Many people, regionally and across Germany, followed the calls and gave us donations for the homeless campaign
“Sad Christmas doesn’t come in the bag”
send.
We would like to thank you very much for that!
We have already put together over 130 gift bags and distributed them at various locations to the homeless in Darmstadt and the surrounding area.
Each bag contains a colorful mix of toiletries, sweets and clothing.
Due to the great response, we will run the campaign until January and continue to put together and distribute bags.
While packing:
Distribution “Container Village” (December 14, 2020)
Distribution Z 14, Darmstadt (December 16, 2020)
Further distribution took place without images.
Christmas campaign for the homeless (November / December 2020)
Even if, according to the media, there will be enough sleeping places in Darmstadt's homeless shelters this winter, that doesn't mean that these people can get everything they need to live and survive. Most people who don't have a home rely on the additional gifts of their fellow human beings on the street. But there are significantly fewer people out and about at the moment and most people are keeping their distance, even if they would like to help.
But: we won't have a sad Christmas!
Because we pack Christmas bags that we distribute in front of the homeless shelter in mid-December. It contains necessary food and hygiene items. Blankets, jackets, sleeping bags and warm socks are also distributed.
How you can support our campaign?
Pack a bag or small package and send it to us by post. What is needed: shower gel, toothbrush, toothpaste, tissues, feminine hygiene products, disposable razors, disinfectant, mouth and nose cover, warm socks, gloves, scarf, hat, chocolate and cookies.
Larger items such as blankets, sleeping bags or warm clothing can also be picked up in the surrounding area. (Tel: 0157 36466554)
Other things, such as fresh fruit, need to be organized in a timely manner. You can support this with a monetary donation.
Credit institution:
Sparkasse Odenwaldkreis
Account owner:
A matter of the heart Odenwald eV
IBAN: DE54 5085 1952 0180 119125
BIC: HELADEF1ERB
Purpose: Donation your details for a donation receipt