Tree Ornaments with a Purpose: 4,000 ‘Wish Cards’ await their Recipients. Over the past few years, more than 15,000 heartfelt gifts have been distributed to those in need
NUREMBERG. End of November, the two Christian university communities KHG (Catholic University Community) and ESG (Protestant Student Community) launched the ecumenical Christmas tree campaign for the 14th time. The previous years were so successful that also this year the initiators wrote 4,000 wish cards to hang on Christmas trees at university locations across Nuremberg.
“Our campaign offers the opportunity to offer not only material gifts, but also appreciation and joy. This way, the recipients experience a sign of hope”, explains university chaplain Bettina Hornung. The gifts are often lovingly wrapped and accompanied by cards with personal greetings. “By being strategically placed across Nuremberg, these trees highlight various life situations amidst the bustling university environment, prompting contemplation and reflection”, adds student pastor Tabea Baader. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans Jürgen Prömel, Founding President of the University of Technology Nuremberg (UTN), emphasizes: “The Christmas tree campaign brings a smile to many people’s faces every year. We are delighted to be involved for the first time in 2023 and to support the organizers in fulfilling numerous wishes.”
How does the Ecumenical Christmas Tree Campaign work?
Anyone can participate: simply take a card from the tree, get the gift named on it, wrap it nicely and drop it off at one of the specified collection points. The wish cards can contain, for example: Hygiene articles, a pack of coffee, toy cars, coloring books, towels or warm socks for homeless people. The gifts cost around 2 euros, so they are affordable, even for students.
Cards in six colors
Each color of the cards stands for an institution in Nuremberg and the region that is receiving gifts this year: Red for the Wärmestube, yellow for the street ambulance, blue for the homeless shelters, green for the Diakonie’s refugee homes and orange for a contact point for underage refugees. New this year: purple stands for the emergency fund for international students, which you can support financially by transferring money.
Where are the Christmas trees?
From November 23 to December 14, 2023, the Christmas trees with the wish cards can be found at the following locations: at the University of Technology (Ulmenstraße), at the University of Music (Veilhofstraße), twice at the Nuremberg Tech (Bahnhofstraße and Mensateria), at the Lutheran University of Applied Sciences (Bärenschanzstraße in Gostenhof), at the Faculty of Education at FAU (Regensburger Straße), St. Paul, at two locations of the FAU Faculty of Economics (Lange Gasse and Findelgasse), at the Dutzendteich student hall of residence, at the Insel Schütt canteen, the LUX and the St. Klara Church.
The two Christian university communities will deliver the gifts to the individual institutions shortly before Christmas. In recent years, the response to the Christmas tree campaign has been very impressive with 1,000 to 1,500 packages. This year, the university communities hope that they will once again be able to pass on many gifts as a sign of hope, especially in these difficult times.
Contact Person
Head of UnitCommunication Unit
About the University of Technology Nuremberg
The University of Technology Nuremberg was founded on January 1, 2021 and has been the first new foundation of a state-run university in Bavaria since 1978. With its consistently interdisciplinary approach, an innovative spectrum of subjects, new teaching methods and a future-oriented organizational structure, a model university will be created when it comes to teaching and research. The university is to have an international, interdisciplinary and digital approach. Upon completion, up to 6,000 students will be able to study on a campus embedded in the surrounding quarters.
Tree Ornaments with a Purpose: 4,000 ‘Wish Cards’ await their Recipients. Over the past few years, more than 15,000 heartfelt gifts have been distributed to those in need
NUREMBERG. End of November, the two Christian university communities KHG (Catholic University Community) and ESG (Protestant Student Community) launched the ecumenical Christmas tree campaign for the 14th time. The previous years were so successful that also this year the initiators wrote 4,000 wish cards to hang on Christmas trees at university locations across Nuremberg.
“Our campaign offers the opportunity to offer not only material gifts, but also appreciation and joy. This way, the recipients experience a sign of hope”, explains university chaplain Bettina Hornung. The gifts are often lovingly wrapped and accompanied by cards with personal greetings. “By being strategically placed across Nuremberg, these trees highlight various life situations amidst the bustling university environment, prompting contemplation and reflection”, adds student pastor Tabea Baader. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans Jürgen Prömel, Founding President of the University of Technology Nuremberg (UTN), emphasizes: “The Christmas tree campaign brings a smile to many people’s faces every year. We are delighted to be involved for the first time in 2023 and to support the organizers in fulfilling numerous wishes.”
How does the Ecumenical Christmas Tree Campaign work?
Anyone can participate: simply take a card from the tree, get the gift named on it, wrap it nicely and drop it off at one of the specified collection points. The wish cards can contain, for example: Hygiene articles, a pack of coffee, toy cars, coloring books, towels or warm socks for homeless people. The gifts cost around 2 euros, so they are affordable, even for students.
Cards in six colors
Each color of the cards stands for an institution in Nuremberg and the region that is receiving gifts this year: Red for the Wärmestube, yellow for the street ambulance, blue for the homeless shelters, green for the Diakonie’s refugee homes and orange for a contact point for underage refugees. New this year: purple stands for the emergency fund for international students, which you can support financially by transferring money.
Where are the Christmas trees?
From November 23 to December 14, 2023, the Christmas trees with the wish cards can be found at the following locations: at the University of Technology (Ulmenstraße), at the University of Music (Veilhofstraße), twice at the Nuremberg Tech (Bahnhofstraße and Mensateria), at the Lutheran University of Applied Sciences (Bärenschanzstraße in Gostenhof), at the Faculty of Education at FAU (Regensburger Straße), St. Paul, at two locations of the FAU Faculty of Economics (Lange Gasse and Findelgasse), at the Dutzendteich student hall of residence, at the Insel Schütt canteen, the LUX and the St. Klara Church.
The two Christian university communities will deliver the gifts to the individual institutions shortly before Christmas. In recent years, the response to the Christmas tree campaign has been very impressive with 1,000 to 1,500 packages. This year, the university communities hope that they will once again be able to pass on many gifts as a sign of hope, especially in these difficult times.
Contact Person
Peter Diehl
Communication Unit
About the University of Technology Nuremberg
The University of Technology Nuremberg was founded on January 1, 2021 and has been the first new foundation of a state-run university in Bavaria since 1978. With its consistently interdisciplinary approach, an innovative spectrum of subjects, new teaching methods and a future-oriented organizational structure, a model university will be created when it comes to teaching and research. The university is to have an international, interdisciplinary and digital approach. Upon completion, up to 6,000 students will be able to study on a campus embedded in the surrounding quarters.