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01.09.2021 Press release: Donation handover after the 2021 flood disaster
After the heavy storms in Rheinland-Pfalz and Nordrhein-Westfalen, there was a lot of damage to property. Some of those affected by the flood even lost their lives. PIKO Spielwaren GmbH decided to help the victims of the flood disaster and launched a H0 special wagon, the entire net proceeds of which will be used to repair the flood damage. In a very short time, almost 5,000 charity cars (4,920) were sold. After deduction of VAT, an impressive amount of 124,000 € was available.
The money collected is to be used to support various affected regions. If possible, the recipients of the donations should be non-profit institutions, such as kindergartens, schools, institutions for the disabled or homes for the elderly.
A total of three projects were selected. 50,000 € will go to the Ahrweiler region, which was particularly hard hit. Not far from the Ahrweiler region, the Rhine-Erft region has also been affected by the flood to a similar extent. Here, too, 50,000 € will be donated.
The remaining share of 24,000 € is to be made available to the Berchtesgadener Land region. Here, the nationally known ice arena at the Königssee was severely damaged by a mudslide. The full extent still cannot be estimated weeks after the flood. PIKO wants to support the reconstruction of the ice arena. However, it is uncertain whether the ice track can be rebuilt. A geological survey of the mountain must still be carried out. If reconstruction is not possible, the donations will be used to help those affected in the region.
In Ahrweiler, numerous schools and kindergartens have been destroyed by the flood. In some facilities, regular classes are no longer possible. Initially, replacement housing is needed to care for the children. One of these replacement housing facilities has been occupied by the Catholic Sankt Laurentius Kindergarten. In the former convent on Calvarienberg, which has been vacant for four years, rooms have been made available to the day kindergarten, which are now being converted for kindergarten operation. Just in time for the end of the holidays, the first children can already be looked after. However, the refurbishment work has not yet been completed. Further donations are needed to complete the work. PIKO has decided to provide 50,000 € for the refurbishment and the purchase of furniture. A total of 100 children are to be cared for in the former convent.
For the neighbouring state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, the city of Erftstadt was chosen as the donation location. Here, too, charitable institutions are affected. A huge mudslide occurred in the district of Blessem. The Marien-Hospital is located directly next to this. An originally small river at the edge of the area flooded the entire hospital, which was completely destroyed, including all medical equipment. The Marien-Hospital Erftstadt-Frauenthal Foundation wants to rebuild the hospital completely. Work on this has already begun. PIKO would like to support the reconstruction with 50,000 €. The first step is to ensure that the emergency ward can be put back into operation.
On 30 August 2021, the first donations were handed over. For this purpose, PIKO sales manager and authorised signatory Jens Beyer travelled personally to Ahrweiler. There, he was gratefully received in the courtyard garden of the convent by Pastor Jörg Meyrer, Administrative Council Chairman Paul Radermacher and the deputy head of the kindergarten Anja Braun, who received the donation cheque of € 50,000.
Shortly afterwards, another €50,000 cheque was handed over at the Marien Hospital in Erftstadt. Foundation Chairman Dr Franz-Georg Rips and Administrative Director Jakob-Josef Schall made it possible to receive the money despite the fact that construction work was already underway and expressed their sincere thanks for the help from southern Thuringia.
The entire staff of PIKO Spielwaren GmbH is proud to have set up such a project together with the PIKO fans. We would like to thank all PIKO friends who made this possible by purchasing the charity car. We hope that the proceeds can be used to provide targeted help locally and wish the institutions all the best in their further implementation.
Sonneberg, 1st September 2021
Photo 1 PIKO sales manager Jens Beyer at the cheque handover with Frau Anja Braun, Paul Radermacher and pastor Jörg Meyrer (f.l.t.r.)
Photo 2 After the end of the holidays, the first children can already be cared for in the new facility
Photo 3 Rooms of the Calvary Monastery still to be converted
Photo 4 Cheque handwover at the Marien-Hospiz with Administrative Director Jakob-Josef Schall, Foundation Chairman Dr. Franz-Georg Rips and PIKO sales manager Jens Beyer (f.l.t.r.)
Photo 5 Air photo of the Marien-Hospital Erftstadt immediately after the flood disaster
Photo 6 Former doctor's room undergoing renovation