On St Nicholas' Day, the last of Stadtwerke Giessen's 75 good deeds in its anniversary year was on the programme - a special highlight. The two sponsors of the good deed played Father Christmas and brought many small and two large gifts to the Gießen Children's Hospital.
Last Friday, Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) brought joy to around 100 girls and boys who are currently receiving inpatient treatment at the Gießen Children's Hospital. Head of Business Customer Sales Thomas Wagner from the Marketing & Sales department and Anita Schenk from the SWG subsidiary Mittelhessen Netz took on the roles of Father Christmas and Angel. The children in the clinic were allowed to reach into the large jute sack and pick out a present.
"A special experience and a good deed that made many children's eyes light up," assured Thomas Wagner. "It was important to us to give the little ones here a nice moment on St Nicholas' Day. And we succeeded," added Anita Schenk. However, the two not only brought numerous small gifts - from yo-yos and cuddly toys to pencil cases and pens. They also brought a large donation cheque for the children's hospital for two training devices worth 2,500 euros - the tenth and final highlight of the 75 good deeds in Stadtwerke Giessen's anniversary year.
A good deed for all children
The two sponsors came up with the idea independently of each other. Anita Schenk explained: "During private visits here at the clinic, I have seen how seriously ill many children are, how much they struggle every day. I thought that bringing joy to the little ones and supporting the facility was an ideal good deed." Thomas Wagner, who has been involved in the Tour of Hope for almost 20 years, pedalling there himself and also knows the children's hospital's cancer ward in this context, felt the same way. "The suffering of the children touched me deeply at the time and made me even more grateful that my two boys are healthy," said the SWG employee.
Together, the two sponsors presented the Managing Director of the children's hospital, Professor Bernd Neubauer, with the donation cheque for two training machines. In future, an elliptical trainer and an ergometer will be used in the hospital's therapy room for physiotherapy and rehabilitation treatment. Professor Bernd Neubauer explained: "I am delighted that Stadtwerke Gießen is covering the costs of the new equipment. They will benefit all girls and boys on all wards who require physiotherapy. A big thank you to SWG for this help on behalf of all the therapists and the clinic management."