"An Edelweiss for a hot meal” is an 8-week community campaign held every year in October and November. Its main aim is to spread the spirit of generosity in the local community.
We have chosen the Edelweiss as the symbol of this initiative because the campaign takes place in the run-up to the Timisoara Viennese Ball. The Edelweiss is a national symbol of both Austria and Romania and the campaign ends with the Viennese Ball, a gala of generosity in our community.
Thus, the edelweiss as a symbol unites us all, regardless of our background, our cultural and social differences for a higher purpose, to get involved to support those who need our support.
Campaign concept
The concept is simple: a corner flower brooch is purchased for a recommended donation of 20 lei (~ 4,3 euro), which is the price of a hot meal for a child in need.
Production
Every year, some companies become partners of the campaign. Their financial support helps us to produce the necessary material and the sticks are hand assembled by single mothers in difficult social circumstances. Thus, this project gives them an extra income to overcome their hardships by doing well before they start to spread.
Distribution
Distribution is through partner companies. More than 40 companies join the campaign and encourage their employees to be generous.
Generosity is a three-step gesture:
(1) donate 20 lei
(2) receive a corner flower-shaped pin
(3) 1 corner flower = 1 hot meal for a child in need
Starting 2023, donations can be made online: https://balulvienez.ro/ro/academie/floare?view=floare&layout=defalult
Every donation gets a pin to join the community of people spreading generosity.
Where does the money go?
Each 20 lei donated will be spent in full to buy food for the 700 children in need at the United Way Center in the Timis region.
Each year we manage to raise around 100,000 lei. That means 5,000 hot meals.
100.000 lei = 10.000 hot meals = food for ~ 714days
Donations should be made to account RO92BACX0000000775632001 BVT
Ana’s Story
Ana is 15 years old and has two siblings, a 16-yo sister and a 8-yo brother. They live only with their mother. The family's only source of income is the mother's occasional unqualified work. Ana's sister abandoned school long time ago in order to help her mother raise her brother.
Before Ana joined our programme, she missed school a lot. She even repeated one school year,
Upon joining our programme, Ana struggled with school work. However, with a lot of help from us and her teachers, she started enjoying school.
As a result, this year she passed the national high-school entry exam. She wants to become a cook or a hair-dresser. She often displays her cooking abilities by preparing meals for the yourger members of our programme.
Ionel’s Story
Ionel is 10 years old and is living only with his father. His mother abandoned him, taking his child allowance with her.
10 months ago he had no birth certificate, he had never attended school, He would spend his days either working with his father or just wondering the streets.
Last autumn, we managed to enrol Ionel in the reception class. After many efforts, Ionel has started writing, reading and doing maths. He has integrated well with his colleagues and he is respected by his teacher because he is very polite, very hard-working, doesn't miss any school days.
The the edelweiss is a trademark registered with OSIM under No. 021457 dated 31.01. 2017
