Dear fellow residents,
As I previously reported, following the “Sweet Aid Packages”—Christmas care packages donated by Globus in Zell after Christmas—as well as a substantial sum of money from donations by the German-American Society “GAI” in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, we were able to send the packages and transfer the funds to Ternopil in the war zone.
In response, we received a note from the city of Ternopil stating that they had mentioned the aid shipments from Zell (Mosel) on their website and expressed their gratitude: https://ternopilcity.gov.ua/news/98349.html
Using the translation feature in web browsers, you can translate from Ukrainian to German and learn much more about what is happening in Ternopil. For those who do not have this option, here is a translation of the message of thanks from the city of Ternopil on its website:
“The Social Center of the City of Ternopil received financial support from partners in the German city of Zell an der Mosel. The campaign was carried out with the support of the German-Ukrainian aid organization “Blau-Gelbes-Kreuz” and the Globus supermarket chain. As part of the social project, more than 100 packages of sweets were distributed to visitors of the center—senior citizens, people with disabilities, and internally displaced persons. The initiative was launched by the mayor of Zell an der Mosel, Hans-Peter Döpgen. The project received active support from the city council, local businesses, and residents. We sincerely thank all benefactors for their help to the residents of Ternopil during these difficult times.”
In addition, the “Blue-Yellow Cross” has informed us:
“… I would like to share two pieces of good news with you:
1. Your donation has already arrived, and we are currently looking for the best deals on a generator for the children’s hospital in Ternopil.
We would be very pleased if we could arrange a joint meeting with you, Ms. Hoffmann (from GAI), and the press at our warehouse in Cologne to organize the delivery of the generator on that day.
2. The generous donations from the Globus supermarket in Zell (Mosel) were successfully distributed in Ternopil on International Women’s Day. “Sweet Greetings” were given to particularly vulnerable women, such as internally displaced persons, people with special needs, and low-income retirees. For this group, the state social center organized an evening with an author and a musical ensemble, and at the end, “Sweet Greetings” from Zell (Mosel) were distributed. The women were deeply moved and grateful for this wonderful gesture of support.
“Your help makes a difference! We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your wonderful support!” said a woman from Ternopil.
It is wonderful and truly heartening that the assistance provided by our fellow citizens, local businesses, and donors from America is being received with such gratitude.
I believe that our German compatriots from previous generations received help after World War II through the CARE packages. Through these initiatives, we can also express and pass on, in a small way, our gratitude for the help and support we received back then to others—those in need today.
I am happy to convey the gratitude of the recipients of the donations to the donors here, and I hope and wish that we can continue to provide assistance with the active support of our community.
Further down on this page, you will find photos of the gift presentation. With these pictures of the delighted recipients, I also wish you a joyful week.
Yours sincerely,
Mayor
Hans-Peter Döpgen
