The association introduces itself
The association was founded in 1992 to help people who were in need during the Balkan wars. Sick people, wounded people, children who no longer had parents were supported financially and with donations in kind. For this purpose, members of the board also went directly to the place.
With the changed political circumstances and the relative calming of the situation, this task was no longer pursued. The work of the association rested for some time, especially since the 1st chairwoman, Mrs. Gaby Cordt, was ill for a long time and passed away in October 2014.
At the end of 2014, when the number of refugees in our country increased strongly and it became visible that direct help was needed, some members decided to reactivate the association in order to support this important task in Kierspe financially with the help of the association.
On December 16, 2014 the annual general meeting took place. A new board of directors was elected. The statutes were changed to the effect that the seat of the association was moved from Meinerzhagen to Kierspe.
The objectives are set out in the statutes:
§ 1
The association bears the name “Menschen helfen e.V.” and is based in Kierspe.
It exclusively and directly pursues charitable and benevolent purposes in the sense of the section
“Tax-privileged purposes” of the tax code.
It operates selflessly. The purpose of the association is concrete and direct help for people in need.
Board of the association:
Gundula Schneider, 1. chairwoman – e-mail: gundula.schneider@meheki.de
Rama Fejleh, vice chairwoman
Hary Schneider, Treasurer – E-Mail: ak-kuemmerlinge@meheki.de
Kerstin Busch-Engelbrecht, secretary
How is the association financed?
Through the “Round Table” and through work assignments to improve the housing situation of the refugees, which many people in our town personally supported, this help became visible in public and many people also wanted to contribute with money to the success. As a result, money donations quickly came into the association’s account and many new members joined the association.
What does the association finance?
Many people work in the refugee working group, look after refugees, give German courses, help with visits to the authorities, equip the apartments on Herlinghauser Weg better and refurnish apartments. Since more and more refugees are coming, it is necessary for the city of Kierspe to rent new apartments. Funds donated to the association are used for the following tasks, e.g. for:
- Basic equipment for apartments
- paints and other material for painting
- Shelves and fasteners, curtains + curtain rods, floor mats, wardrobes, cleaning supplies, buckets, brooms, kitchen and cleaning cloths, et cetera
- Purchase of necessary furniture/electrical appliances that were not donated.
- Books and other material for German lessons
- Travel expenses for courses
- Lawyer’s fee allowance
- Support for VHS language courses and integration courses
- Membership fees for refugees who are active in an association
- Liability insurance for members of the association, et cetera
Through the basic equipment of the apartments, which is financed by the city of Kierspe, through generous donations in kind, through the extraordinary voluntary work of the helpers and through the financial support of the association, which in turn draws its funds from donations, it is possible to create a satisfactory housing situation for the refugees in our city.
The work of “Hand in Hand” and “Menschen helfen” is well coordinated. For example, donations of furniture go to the refugee working group, which in turn is supported in its work by “Menschen helfen”, while all donations of clothing are accepted and distributed by “Hand in Hand”. Hand in Hand also finances and organizes food distributions on the last Wednesday of every month.
Our work costs money. We appreciate any donation with which you support our work.
Our donation account:
Menschen Helfen e.V.
IBAN: DE 55 4585 1665 0000 0499 73
BIC: WELADED1KMZ
Bank: Sparkasse Kierspe-Meinerzhagen