In parts of Ukraine, descendants of Upper Austrian emigrants from the Salzkammergut still live in poor conditions. Year after year, the OÖ Landerhilfe puts a smile on the faces of the youngest children with the “Christ Child from the Shoebox” campaign.
Shhh! Now I will tell you a secret: the Christ Child is real. But he doesn’t always float in through the window on angel wings; he sometimes delivers the packages in fifty small vans. What is the same in both cases: the gifts are eagerly awaited.
100 volunteers, 24,000 packages
“We know that the children always ask when we will finally come,” says Nico Praus (28), vice-chairman of the OÖ Landlerhilfe. On Saturday morning he left Wels with more than 100 volunteers and 24,000 packages to Western Ukraine, about 1,000 kilometers away. 400 Upper Austrian schools, kindergartens and communities took part in the campaign this year and filled shoe boxes with something to wear, play with, snack, learn and a hygiene product.
Long waiting times at the border
“We are a convoy of 50 small trucks that are made available to us. The actual driving time would be ten hours, but we usually don’t arrive at our accommodation until around three in the morning,” says Praus. One of the biggest time wasters is the Ukrainian border crossing, where the “Christkindlhelfer” have to wait between five and six hours.
“It’s extremely difficult. First, all passports are checked, then vehicle registrations and the contents of the packages are checked randomly. Almost every year there is a different problem. “Once we were even suspected of supplying weapons,” says the 28-year-old, who has been there for ten years.
Just walking pace
Shortly before the destination there is another difficult section, because the last 50 to 60 kilometers can sometimes only be covered at walking pace due to the extremely poor road conditions. When the convoy finally arrives, waving children are already waiting. The standard of living there cannot be compared to ours: “Many people in the villages are unemployed, live in wooden huts with outbuildings and without running water,” says Praus.
Sirens during gift giving
On site, the team receives a list of schools and kindergartens where the packages will be distributed. “When we hand out the presents, the children’s eyes light up,” says Praus. Sometimes the mood is spoiled by the sound of sirens: “We find this difficult to imagine. Suddenly an air raid siren sounds, but people react very calmly and just carry on.”
Tears during “Silent Night”
The Peace Light also travels with the OÖ Landlerhilfe to that part of Ukraine where descendants of Old Upper Austrians from the Salzkammergut still live. “When we sing ‘Silent Night’ with the locals in church, many people cry because of the war.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
