Winter aid for Ukraine: workforce again shows great solidarity
© UNHCR/Andrew McConnell
Great response to the winter appeal for donations by the Group Works Council and the Volkswagen Group: In the first four days, the workforce has collected more than 125,000 euros for refugees in and from Ukraine.
"I am extremely pleased about the solidarity among our workforce. A big thank you! Every donation counts to help the people in the crisis area through the winter. The situation on the ground is devastating: large parts of the infrastructure have been destroyed by Russian missile attacks. Heat, electricity and gas are considered scarce commodities," says Thomas Zahn, head of Task Force Ukraine Aid. Warming houses are already being set up in Kiev to protect people from freezing to death. Around a third of the Ukrainian population has had to leave their homes, estimates the United Nations Refugee Agency. This represents one of the largest refugee crises in the world today.
The idea behind Winter Aid: after clicking on the donation page, donors can pack a personal box with relief supplies essential for survival. For logistical and efficiency reasons, the company and the works council have decided on a cash donation appeal instead of donations in kind. The money will be used for vital aid on site. This includes distributing winter clothing, blankets, heating equipment and fuel, as well as providing winter-suitable accommodation.
The fundraising campaign will run until January. It is aimed at all workforces throughout the Volkswagen Group.