About 400 children and adults seek granting of wishes annually, aspiring for their dreams to come true.
The Kaarster Wish Tree Project: A Community Tradition of Joy and Generosity
For seventeen years, Kaarster resident Georg Gaspers has dedicated his time to overseeing the Wunschbaum project. Its purpose: To spread cheer among underprivileged children (and now adults) during the holiday season.
This year, 233 children and 152 seniors have submitted their wish lists, which will adorn the Christmas tree in the town hall soon. The generous donation and decoration of the tree were made by Georg Gaspers and Michaela Orzesek.
Kaarst city actively supports this initiative. Initially, the wish lists were only from children, but since 2021, cooperation with the "Kaarster helfen" association has enabled the fulfillment of Christmas wishes for underprivileged adults as well. For many, opening a gift during the holidays may no longer be a certainty.
Local Protestant and Catholic churches participate in the Wunschbaum action, aiming to brighten the holiday season for those in need. Mayor Ursula Baum expressed confidence that the Kaarster Wunschbaum will be eagerly “plundered” by residents once again this year. She also applauded IKEA's Kaarst furniture store for extending its kindness by inviting 300 needy individuals to a Christmas meal for the first time.
Though the official start of the action is on November 16th, the first wishes are already appearing on the tree's branches. The Kaarster Wunschbaum concept is simple: Individuals wanting to partake merely need to pick a wish, purchase the desired gift, and return it, festively wrapped, to the town hall. From there, the gifts will be distributed.
Gift acceptance dates are scheduled for December 7th and 14th, from 10 am to 2 pm in the town hall foyer.
Community projects like the Kaarster Wunschbaum often stem from local initiatives aimed at fostering community connections and camaraderie. These projects can trace their roots to a "Wunschbaum," a symbol for collecting wishes, aspirations, or dreams from the local community.
In such projects, community involvement is crucial for success. Volunteers help manage the project, and residents submit their wishes on cards, which are then tied to the tree. Events are organized around the Wunschbaum, encouraging social interaction, and promoting inclusion among all community members. Creative expression and wish-sharing are also key aspects of such projects.
- The Wunschbaum project, now in its 17th year, has expanded to accommodate not only children but also underprivileged adults, thanks to cooperation with the "Kaarster helfen" association and the involvement of local Protestant and Catholic churches.
- Aside from providing gifts for the holiday season, local businesses such as IKEA's Kaarst furniture store contribute to community spirit by inviting needy individuals to a Christmas meal.
- Beyond fostering generosity, community projects like the Kaarster Wunschbaum also encourage social interaction, promoting inclusion among all members, through events organized around the Wunschbaum and creative expression.
- In addition to its annual "wishes" for food-and-drink, home-and-garden, fashion-and-beauty, and other lifestyle items, this year's wish list may include aspirations for pets, travel, cars, and even relationships.
- The Kaarster Wunschbaum project, driven by the combined efforts of individuals who pick, purchase, and return gifts, embodies the spirit of giving, creating a strong sense of community connections and camaraderie.
