The fate of the people in the Ahr valley moves Claudia Kunstmann from Wessobrunn so much that she decided to take action: She organized buses to drive to the area hit hard by the flood from October 29th to 31st and help out there .
Wessobrunn - The pictures from the Ahr valley, which showed in mid-July how a valley became a flood area, moved the whole republic.
Flooded streets, meadows and vineyards, destroyed houses, fields washed away, mud and rubble everywhere.
Many people were completely unprepared for the flood disaster.
They weren't warned.
At least 133 fatalities are to be mourned on the Ahr alone.
Many lost everything they had on the night of July 14th to 15th.
More than three months after the Ahr valley was flooded by masses of water, those affected are still struggling with the aftermath of the flood.
Time is of the essence now because winter is just around the corner.
Claudia Kunstmann from Wessobrunn did not let go of these pictures of the flood disaster.
She was already on call during her summer vacation because she was on a list of helpers.
But it was never requested.
When she was back home in Wessobrunn, she found out from neighbors who had decided to travel to the Ahr valley to help there that there was still enough to do in the flood area.
Kunstmann decided to take action and look for helpers who would go with her to the Ahr valley to help out.
"To see how the people there are is terrible," says the woman from Wessobrunner: "I feel the need to get involved." She has already donated money, "but that was not enough for me."
It was clear to Kunstmann that she would travel to the area of the flood disaster in order to lend a hand and take as many helpers as possible with her. A date was quickly found: From Friday, October 29th to Sunday, October 31st, the mission is to take place under the motto “Help out together - come with me!”. Depending on the number of participants, Kunstmann organizes one large or several small buses. Each helper bears the cost of the trip himself, accommodation and food on site do not cost anything. The woman from Wessobrunner asked her friends, acquaintances and colleagues who would be willing to accompany her to the Ahr Valley at the end of October in order to support the clean-up work there. She posted notices, and her appeal was also published on the website of the municipality of Wessobrunn.
In the meantime, eleven helpers have found each other. “Actually, I was hoping that I would fill a whole touring coach,” says Kunstmann. She is now assuming that it will be more like minibuses that drive from the multi-purpose hall in Wessobrunn into the Ahr valley. Anyone who has the time and wants to lend a hand in the flood area is welcome, every helping hand is needed, says Kunstmann.
The group from Wessobrunn has already been announced.
When the helpers from the district arrive in the flood area, they are assigned and the helper shuttle takes them to where their help is needed.
Tents were set up for the supporters, which can be heated and are divided into two-person cabins.
Food is also provided, says Kunstmann: “We are taken care of.” She can imagine that this will not be the last helper trip that she organizes from Wessobrunn.
Kunstmann is convinced that it is definitely worth going to the Ahr Valley to help there: "We were all alone a lot during the Corona period, to feel the great solidarity there is certainly good." through the lockdowns and the corona measures the question of meaning.
"That can certainly be answered differently after such an action."
Sign up
Anyone who would like to take part in the helper's trip to the Ahr valley from Friday, October 29th (departure: 11.30 a.m., multi-purpose hall Wessobrunn) to Sunday, October 31st, (departure: 3 p.m. Grafschaft im Ahrtal) can register with Claudia Kunstmann at the following telephone number 0172/1604321.
