The imposing Nordmann fir tree in the foyer of Aachen Town Hall reaches up to the ceiling. This year it is festively decorated with golden stars and baubles. In keeping with tradition, the tree is also adorned with 317 colorful wish lists. Because it's that time again: from today, November 22, children's wishes can once again be "picked" from the Christmas wish list tree and fulfilled. The tree has been on display in Aachen Town Hall during the Christmas season since 2008. For the 17th time, the colorful slips of paper will contain the Christmas wishes of children and young people living in various child and youth welfare facilities in Aachen.

"As every year, I'm really looking forward to this day and I'm sure that the campaign will be just as successful as the last few times. The Wishing Tree is a wonderful opportunity for citizens to get involved and help children have a wonderful Christmas," said Mayor Sibylle Keupen at the start of this year's campaign. All Aachen citizens can now support children with a little Christmas joy by taking a wish list from the tree.

Anyone who takes a wish list from the tree has until December 13 at 4 pm to bring the Christmas-wrapped presents back to the town hall with the accompanying wish list. This leaves enough time to get the parcels and packages to the children and young people at the three institutions Zentrum für soziale Arbeit Burtscheid, Evangelische Kinder- und Jugendhilfe Aachen-Brand and Maria im Tann - Zentrum für Kinder-, Jugend- und Familienhilfe on time and make the children happy on Christmas Eve.

As every year, the children's wishes are a colorful mix: from craft sets to sports equipment, cuddly toys, Duplo or Lego bricks,

From puzzles to cosmetics or furnishings and household items for your first home, everything is included. The cards also include unusual wishes such as a saw or a hammer, annual tickets for the zoo and a large teddy bear. Many of the young people also want board games, books or vouchers for bookshops. Vouchers are frequently included, as these create a special, and perhaps not so obvious, "shopping feeling" for the young people and children. The variety of wishes is limitless - and a little humility comes with such a simple wish as "colorful A4 paper for handicrafts".

Warm clothing required

As part of the launch of the wish list campaign, the Burtscheid Center for Social Work once again reports that the clothing stores are empty. There is a shortage of warm clothing, especially in the cold season. What is specifically needed is winter clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, jackets and shoes. The Evangelische Kinder- und Jugendhilfe Aachen Brand would be delighted to receive ski gloves for children and young people.

Mayor Sibylle Keupen is therefore asking all Aachen residents to donate winter clothing.

Please only contact the organization directly for donations:

Center for Social Work Burtscheid / Ev. Frauenverein Aachen von 1850

Branderhofer Weg 14, 52066 Aachen

E-mail: kontakt@zfsa.de

Phone: 0241-609070

The gloves are then passed on to the Evangelische Kinder- und Jugendhilfe Aachen Brand.