Not for the first time, VfL Wolfsburg’s ‘wishing tree’ initiative has helped bring smiles to many children’s faces this Christmas. On Thursday, the first 50 presents were lovingly wrapped and delivered to the ‘Am Drömlingstadion’ refugee hostel in Vorsfelde. The kids, who had asked for toys and warm clothes for the winter months this year, received the gifts with delight in their eyes.
Excitement and joy
The presents were handed out in person by the initiative’s well-known sponsors, Jule Brand und Rebecka Blomqvist, with the former taking part in the campaign for the third year in succession: “I’m delighted to be involved again this year,” she said. “It really is a wonderful initiative. Seeing the joy in the children’s eyes reminds you what really matters. It’s nice to see kids from different cultures get along so well with one another.”
The recipients and their parents were thrilled to meet the two She-Wolves stars. The excitement was particularly tangible among the kids, who could hardly wait to unwrap their gifts. Unsurprisingly perhaps, a lot of them ended up opening their parcels straight away, sparking a wave of excitement at the accommodation. “There was a lot going on here,” Blomqvist said. “It’s so cool to see. The kids were pleased, which is always the most important thing. It’s very nice to make them happy in the lead-up to Christmas.”
Wonderful response
The reaction to this year’s ‘wishing tree’ initiative has been impressive, with numerous players, staff, fans and citizens of Wolfsburg responding to the call to pick a card and help fulfil a child’s wish. Overall, around 150 cards were collected after being distributed on five Christmas trees around the city. After Vorsfelde, presents will also be handed out at refugee accommodations on Hafenstraße, Dieselstraße and in Detmerode in the coming days, ensuring that no child is left empty-handed this year.