Stëmm vun der Strooss Receives Donations from Rotary, LESC

Stëmm vun der Strooss, a local non-profit organisation promoting the social and professional integration of disadvantaged people, has reported that it recently received donations from Rotary and Lycée Edward Steichen.

The non-profit recalled that Rotary is celebrating its 95th anniversary in Luxembourg this year. The first three clubs to be founded in the Grand Duchy were the RC Luxembourg in 1929, the RC Esch-sur-Alzette in 1960 and the RC Diekirch-Ettelbruck in 1963. In 2024, the three clubs decided to join forces to fight against poverty and promote social cohesion. Through the joint project "Staark mam Rotary", they raised €30,000, enabling Stëmm vun der Strooss to purchase a new van. The official announcement of this donation (shared equally by the three clubs) took place at the Aal Seeërei in Diekirch on Saturday 11 May 2024.

In front of an audience of 200 people, Stëmm vun der Strooss Director Alexandra Oxacelay expressed her delight at this wave of solidarity: "Your partnership with us was a godsend, as you have given us considerable logistical support with the additional vehicle." She emphasised that a multifunctional fleet of vehicles is important in order to be able to continue to meet growing demand.

Every day, Stëmm vun der Strooss serves 750 meals in its three social restaurants in Luxembourg-Hollerich, Esch-sur-Alzette and Ettelbruck. Since the Caddy workshop moved to Sanem, the amount of food collected by people benefiting from a professional reintegration programme and volunteers from Banque Alimentaire to be processed and then redistributed free of charge has also increased considerably. Suitable vans are needed to transport them every day to the Stëmm restaurants and to the associations that also take care of disadvantaged people. The fifteen residents and the 30 people who look after the green areas and the organic garden at the post-therapy centre in Schoenfels also need to be mobile, said the non-profit. The latter added that it would not be possible to guarantee deliveries as part of the activities of Schweesdrëps and Immo Stëmm without cars.

Alexandra Oxacelay concluded: "I would like to thank the presidents of the three Rotary clubs, Georges Thielen, president of RC Diekirch-Ettelbruck, Christian Weiwers, president of RC Esch-sur-Alzette and Bim Biwer, president of RC Luxembourg, from the bottom of my heart for their joint project Staark mam Rotary".

The van was handed over to those responsible at Stëmm vun der Strooss on Thursday 16 May 2024 in the workshops in Sanem, in the presence of a delegation from the three Rotary clubs.

Moreover, Stëmm vun der Strooss reported that it had recently received a donation of €4,500 from Lycée Edward Steichen in Clervaux (LESC). The money raised came from the LESC's traditional Christmas market, which took place last December. The pupils sold biscuits, chocolate, decorations, greetings cards, etc. They themselves selected Stëmm vun der Strooss as the recipient of the donation.

The school management invited and welcomed Bob Ritz, Communications Officer of Stëmm vun der Strooss, to the LESC Open Day on Saturday 27 April 2024. The donation handover took place on stage in front of the pupils involved in the fundraising and an information stand was also provided for the organisation.

Bob Ritz explained that "this generous donation will be used to finance part of the cost of repairing the extension to the Stëmm social restaurant at 68-70 Rue de Hollerich". This extension is expected to significantly reduce the flow of people in the dining room on a daily basis.

The new room will serve as a reception centre and waiting room for beneficiaries who have made an appointment with a social worker, hairdresser or volunteer doctor, for example. This is expected to make it possible to accommodate more people in the restaurant.