Bringing joy to people in need
“The food and personal hygiene products will be useful in our everyday life – and chocolate always goes down well,” says the single mother, who has come this morning to collect a parcel and a shopping bag containing donated products from the “2 x Christmas” campaign at the Fribourg Red Cross. “I’m so grateful for this support that will benefit the whole family.”
Tight income
The 45-year-old from Cameroon is solely responsible for looking after her four children – a 17-year-old son and three daughters aged eight, 13 and 15. She has already been living in Switzerland for more than 10 years. After training as an SRC care assistant, she temporarily found work in a home.
However, the full-time job was too much on top of her household and family. Following a period of exhaustion coupled with anxiety due to unpaid bills and debts, the skilled hairdresser now wishes to re-enter the health sector. However, it is doubtful whether her income from this will suffice for the family of five.
Small budget bonus
“The goods donations enable us to bring some joy into the lives of people in Switzerland living in poverty,” explains Abdelfatah Lbadaoui. “The shopping bags containing donated goodies serve as a small bonus to their budget.” Many of them have problems making ends meet with their tight income.
The donated gifts bring a smile to people’s faces.
The social worker sees a major problem in the rising cost of living: “Everyday life is becoming more expensive. When this is exacerbated by strokes of fate such as an accident, illness or divorce, this can result in precarious financial situations.”
Special treat
Preparing and distributing the goods, which are collected centrally in Wabern, near Bern, as part of the “2 x Christmas” campaign from December to mid-January, is also something special for the team at the Fribourg Red Cross: with the assistance of a group of volunteers, the shopping bags and parcels are packed with donated goodies.
When handed over, the donated gifts then frequently bring a smile to the faces of people living in poverty – as is the case this morning with the single mother. She warmly thanks Abdelfatah Lbadaoui, saying “The chocolate will enable me to give my children a special treat today”. She sets off home with a parcel and a full shopping bag.