In the workshop for people with disabilities at Büngern-Technik, 2,000 candles were made for a good cause, which will be handed in for a donation in downtown Bocholt on Saturday. The employees at Büngern-Technik asked themselves what they can do for the people of Ukraine. This was a big issue, not only for employees, but also for people with disabilities. “We asked ourselves how we could help. And then we thought: we’ll do what we’re good at: candles,” says Marlies Knuf, an employee in the support area of the workshop for people with disabilities at the Büngern-Technik site in Mussum. Büngern-Technik offers candles from its own production in its candle studio all year round. Severely disabled people and people with multiple disabilities are also involved in this production process. Marlies Knuf and the employees were particularly pleased that they were able to produce candles in the Ukrainian national colors.
Büngern-Technik then immediately put the idea into practice. 2000 candles in small clay pots are available for sale. “Actually, we sell the candles in our candle studio. But now we are giving up the income and asking for donations for every candle we take with us. We will then pass on all of the proceeds to an aid project in Romania,” says Marlies Knuf. The Caritas Association in Iasi, in north-eastern Romania, has been a partner association of the Diocesan Caritas Association of Münster for many years. Caritas in Iasi has set up a reception center in Siret, near the Ukrainian border, which is being supported with the donations. In addition to places to sleep and the supply of food, an information and orientation center is to be set up. This should give refugees the opportunity to keep in touch with their families, relatives and friends. In addition, another 130 places for long-term accommodation will be set up in several locations in the region. Because while some of the refugees travel directly to relatives and friends in other European countries, many do not have this option. Among them are many mothers with children and unaccompanied minors.
“Everyone is on fire in the workshop. We would like to help and are happy that we can somehow support this with our own work. The employees identify very much with their work and hope for great success,” says Marlies Knuf.
Next Saturday, March 12th, 2022 from 09:00 a.m. the candles will be offered at 2 stands in the city center of Bocholt (near Café Extrablatt and Neustraße/Königstraße for a donation of at least 5.00 €.
If you don’t have time to visit the stands in downtown Bocholt on Saturday and still want to donate to the cause, you can do so afterwards.
Image: Employee Marlies Knuf (centre) with employees and colleagues in front of the ready-to-sell candles, candles also available in Ukrainian national colors