31.10.2008: Nonprofit seeks to help needy on far East Side
By Michael D. Hernandez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 10/31/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT
EL PASO — An increase in drug-related violence in Juárez has forced a Fort Bliss charity to curtail its work in Mexico but Helping Hands, the 26-year-old nonprofit operated by military families from the German Air Force, has turned to other communities in the area to offer help.
Carmen Martinez and her 4-year-old daughter Jeily Martinez look through piles of clothes that were brought to Montana Vista Elementary School as part of the German Helping Hands program. Area residents in the Montana Vista area were invited to pick clothes out to take as part of the program partnered with the Clint Independent School District to help struggling families in the area.
On Oct. 21, the charity rolled into Montana Vista Elementary where it reached out to poor families and distributed clothing, blankets and food it had collected.
The donation was part of a new partnership Helping Hands has formed with the Clint Independent School District to help struggling families in Montana Vista and near Horizon City, said Ursula Morawietz, a board member for the charity.
In August, members of Helping Hands met students at Desert Hills Elementary in Horizon City where they gave out school supplies, book bags and school uniforms.
Morawietz said members of the charity, which is composed mostly of military spouses, feels an obligation to lend support to the neediest people in the area.
“We are so happy here in El Paso,” she said. “We have wonderful houses and we have everything we need. That’s why I think it’s important to give back to the community, to help others.”
Agnes Merten and Kerstin Lipka, two members of the German Helping Hands program, refolded clothes they brought to Montana Vista Elementary School to distribute to area residents.
Helping Hands was formed in 1982 when two families stationed in the area with the German Air Force distributed used clothing to Juárez residents who were scouring their city dump for salvageable items. Over the years, the charity focused its efforts in Juárez, supporting schools, clinics and orphanages that
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served the most overlooked residents of the area as well as indigenous groups in Mexico.
Helping Hands also has supported the Rescue Mission of El Paso and the Opportunity Center of El Paso.
Morawietz said the charity will continue with monthly visits to schools in Montana Vista and in Horizon City and it welcomes donations of clothing, blankets and food it can help distribute.
The partnership with the Clint ISD is making a difference for many families who were poised to have a difficult winter, district spokeswoman Laura Cade said.
“Our district is 380 square miles and we have pockets where people have no basic services like running water or heat,” she said, adding that about 85 families in the area have been served by Helping Hands.
“It’s great that they want to help and impact the community because there is definitely a need,” she said.
Helping Hands is expected to participate in the Non Commissioned Officers’ Wives bazaar Saturday and Sunday at Stout Gym and is gearing up to raise more funds through the German Advent Bazaar on Nov. 22 at the German Community Center at Fort Bliss.
To learn more about Helping Hands or to give a donation to the nonprofit, call Ursula Morawietz at 855-2338 or go online to www.germanhelpinghands.de.
Michael D. Hernandez may be reached at mhernandez@ elpasotimes.com; 546-6151.
Montitor Fort Bliss – May 13, 2010
Bliss German Community Center opens Biergarden
Adorned in a “Bayern Muenchen” soccer jersey, Marco Andresen paces around the club and checks on all the final littel details of what makes his club a success. The kitchen is hot with the delicious smells of Schweinshaxe and Kuchen and the pils and lagers are primed to be poured. Nearby Michaela Koeglmeier and her friends from German Helping Hands set out an endless sea of schokoladentorte, apelkuchen and other desserts for guests to indulge in.
German Air Force Lt.Col. Wolfgang Rasquin, chairman of the center, was on hand to greet guests and introduce the raising of der maibaum, translated as a May Tree or a May Pole. The Maypole is “a tall wooden pole made from a tree trunk (pine or birch), with colorfull ribbons, flowers, carved figures and various other decorations”, and in German culture its raising (usually May 1) serves to welcome spring. The German hots follwed the ceremonial raising with an authentic Schuhplattler, a traditional German dance from Bavaria.
German Helping Hands sold tasty baked goods to raise money for the charitable work they do in the El Paso community. Koeglmeier, a volunteer, saidm their group used to travel to Juarez to assist needy families, but recent violence has left them only to assist in the local area.
“We are feeding the needy” said Koeglmeier. “We work with homeless people and everybody who needs help”.
David E. Poe – Monitor Staff
22.08.2008: Schulstart mit H.H. Starthilfe
Frauen von Helping Hands unterstützen Schulprogramm in Horizon City
Daniela Koch, Uschi Morawietz, Kerstin Lipka, Ingrid Schillig, Michaela Kögelmeier und Annegret Huismann assistierten Maria Navar und überreichten in der Gymnastikhalle der Schule, deren Podium mit der Aufschrift gekürt war, „We are terrific and getting smarter everyday“, die mitgebrachte Starthilfe.
Seit Monaten sind den deutschen Mitarbeiterinnen von Helping Hands in ihrem Tatendrang Menschen zu helfen, die helfenden Hände gebunden. Durch die angespannte Lage in Juarez, wird ihnen von der Führung der Bundeswehr in Fort Bliss, aus Führsorgegründen empfohlen, die Projekte jenseits der Grenze durch den persönlichen Einsatz vor Ort, vorübergehend ruhen zu lassen. Da die Frauen der Gruppe aber ihre helfenden Hände nicht untätig in den Schoss legen wollen, haben sie nach Hilfsprojekten diesseits der Grenze gesucht und sind im Clint Independent School District fündig geworden.
Dessert Hills Elementary School, hilft bedürftigen Kindern
Über die Grenze kommende obdachlose Kinder und Kinder von Feldarbeitern die eine vorläufige Aufenthaltsgenehmigung haben, bereiten den Verantwortlichen für das Bildungssystem in El Paso zunehmend Kopfschmerzen. Die Anzahl der Kinder, die einen gesetzlichen Anspruch auf Schulbildung haben, wird immer größer und die gesetzlichen Mittel reichen bei weitem nicht aus, um den quantitativen und qualitativen Ansprüchen genüge zu leisten. Man ist auf die Hilfe von Organisationen angewiesen. So trafen die Damen von H.H. einen hocherfreuten, für die Hilfsprogramme verantwortlichen Direktor Ignatio Solis mit seinen Assistentinnen Maria Navar und Matilde Reza an, als sie sich nach dem Projekt erkundigten und nach der Bewertung in einer gemeinsamen Sitzung entschieden, das Projekt zu unterstützen.
Es war Freitag der 22. August, als die Sprecherin Daniela Koch und mehrere Frauen mit vollbepackten Autos vor der Schule vorfuhren und für 55 Kinder, Schulmaterial, Schultaschen, Schulkleidung und Tüten mit Lebensmitteln im Wert von $2500,00 mitbrachten. In der Gymnastikhalle der Schule Verteilten sie das Mitgebrachte, an die mit glänzenden Augen erfreuten obdachlosen Kinder sowie Kinder der Migranten.
Von der Sprecherin war zu erfahren, dass bis die Lage sich in Juarez entspannt, man ähnliche Projekte in den Colonias der Randgebiete diesseits der Grenze mit Sachspenden unterstützen will.
(Text und Bild: Engelbert Morawietz)
