Emergency services are on duty around the clock to help people in the flood areas.
Unexpected help is now also coming from private companies such as Obi or Lidl.
North Rhine-Westphalia - At least 130 people have died so far from the floods in Germany.
The death toll in the greater Ahrweiler area alone rose to over 90 by Saturday morning. Houses and cars were also destroyed or damaged - many are left with nothing.
In view of these catastrophic conditions, solidarity is now required.
Now, however, help comes from an unexpected source: some hardware stores provide shovels, brooms or tools free of charge for clean-up work, while discounters donate food.
But how unselfish is the action?
Flood: Obi encourages: "Everyone can help!"
When the water masses retreat, only mud and chaos remain. This has to be eliminated as soon as possible. Obi announced in a message that he wanted to support the local aid organizations: “If you need shovels, brooms, pumps and equipment, please contact your nearest Obi store immediately. We will try to provide you with everything you need for your work on site, free of charge, as possible, ”it says on social media. In a press release, the DIY store added that customers in the affected regions were also given a discount of 20 percent on the entire range.
In addition, the hardware store calls for solidarity: “Everyone can help!” Drying equipment and pumps are currently difficult to find anywhere in Germany.
Anyone who has such a device at home can hand it in at the nearest hardware store to help people in need.
“In return for the material donation, the helpers receive an OBI voucher worth an equivalent new device,” the message continues.
The hardware store itself states that it wants to take over the coordination of the devices and distribute them as required.
As praiseworthy as the campaign is: Incidentally, the group naturally ensures positive image advertising - and is not alone in this.
Hornbach, Lidl and Co .: discounts and groceries for those affected
The hardware store chain Hornbach is also promising a 20 percent discount for customers affected by the flood. This applies to twelve markets in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Luxembourg, initially until August 14th. A spokeswoman announced to
t-online
. Toom and Bauhaus also offer a 20 percent discount for those affected. According to the hardware stores, a picture of the damage and an identity card are sufficient evidence.
Discounters such as Lidl or Kaufland distribute food donations to those affected and helpers. In addition to the goods, Lidl is donating 500,000 euros to the
Germany helps campaign,
while Kaufland is
donating an
additional 250,000 euros. For comparison: Germany's largest group, Volkswagen, gave one million euros to the
German Red Cross
for immediate and emergency aid for flood victims
.
Food donations are particularly urgent at the moment: The aid organization
Die Tafeln
reports that the buildings, facilities and vehicles of the
food banks
in the affected areas were destroyed by the flood.
At the same time, the on-site organization must provide assistance to those in acute need.
Anyone who would like to help can convert returnable bottles into a donation to the food banks in every Lidl branch.
This is very easy at the push of a button on the deposit machine.
Help properly: the police warn against unauthorized action
Donations in kind and money are important in the current disaster situation.
But the police warn against starting unauthorized actions:
Again our urgent request not to go to the disaster area to look for relatives or to secure belongings yourself.
Well-intentioned help can also become a problem at the moment.
Do not hinder the rescue measures!
Avoid the affected areas!
pic.twitter.com/x46bros8xu
- Police NRW BN (@polizei_nrw_bn) July 16, 2021
Better then: give money or donations in kind to experienced aid organizations who will distribute them.
There are various donation accounts, for example that of
Aktion Deutschland hilft
, the flood donation page of the
German Red Cross
or the
foundation of the technical relief organization
.
Every little thing helps. Marketing or not, the aid campaigns by discounters, hardware stores and other companies also support those affected. Regardless of whether it is effective or not, the Obi hardware store is right in one point: "Everyone can help!"