The Christmas parcel convoy set off from Hanau on its journey to Eastern Europe in the bright winter sun to bring joy to children in need. For the third time Ewald Raben, CEO of the Raben Group, is one of the patrons of the charitable project of the Round Table and Ladies' Circle Germany. Shortly after the summer holidays the first parcels arrive at the regional collection points of Round Table, Ladies' Circle, Tangent Club, Old Tablers as well as friends and supporters. The parcels are sorted at the collection points and shortly before departure all parcels arrive at the central warehouse of Raben Trans European Germany in Mülheim-Kärlich, where they are placed on pallets ready for the convoy's journey.
A total of 173,161 parcels have been collected, which are now on their way to Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and the Ukraine with 58 trucks and accompanied by 293 volunteers. There the gifts are distributed in kindergartens, schools, children's homes, orphanages and clinics. The gifts have been packed by children from all over Germany and will be transported and personally distributed by volunteers.
"It is simply wonderful to see how the parcels reach the children and how they show that we are part of a community that stands up for each other across cultural and regional borders," says Sabine Zange, convoy leader and managing director. The focus of the Christmas parcel convoy is that the parcels come from the heart - and they do.
In his speech, Ewald Raben praised the success of the campaign, saying:
"The secret of being able lies in wanting. The commitment of the many children and volunteers to the convoy is impressive."
Because so many people wanted to give joy, the Christmas parcel convoy grew from year to year.
The employees of the Raben Group also volunteered for the Christmas parcel convoy. They brought their lovingly packed parcels home with them, helped to pack the many arriving parcels in outer cartons and sometimes travel with the convoy to distribute the parcels. Among them is Marco Raben, brother of Ewald Raben and managing director of Raben Trucking & Rental GmbH.
"The Raben Group takes it for granted to support socially committed organisations, and I am delighted to be able to make my own contribution," - Marco Raben said before getting into the truck and setting off.