Donation goal reached: 100,000 euros for 3,000 sleeping places in Caritas mother-child homes

Due to the Corona crisis and the accompanying lockdown, women at risk of poverty are particularly affected. Mothers in particular reach their limits in these times, which means that the number of women at risk of poverty continues to rise with the ongoing crisis. Meanwhile, three years ago, Caritas together with Doris Schmidauer, wife of the current Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, founded the network  www.wirtun.at, which supports the concerns of women in need: "Both women and men are suffering from the Corona crisis. But in places like the mother-child homes or the social counselling centres it becomes clear that women are hit harder by the consequences of the pandemic. The majority of women work in so-called system-relevant jobs - in schools or in the food trade. It is women who often take on childcare and care for relatives and thus keep society running. At the same time, we also know: women are more often threatened by poverty. This aid is therefore a great support for mothers in acute crisis situations. They not only get a protective roof over their heads, but also the chance for a new start," says Schmidauer, who serves as #wirtun (#wedo) ambassador. 

Supporting affected women and their children in special crisis situations in an unbureaucratic and direct way has been part of the lived corporate culture of BIPA and P&G for many years. This year, the fundraising campaign #Mütternhelfen took place for the fourth time. Thanks to the numerous support of BIPA and P&G customers, 100,000 euros were collected again this year for the benefit of the Caritas initiative #wirtun. The customers made their contribution by buying a pack of the participating P&G brands, Ariel, Oral-B, Gillette Venus, Pampers and Pantene. With every product sold between April 22nd and May 19th, the donation pot was filled by 0.25 euros. Within the framework of #wirtun, Caritas provides affected mothers and their children in the 12 Caritas mother-child homes in Austria with housing facilities, counselling hours and products for daily needs. 

Thomas Lichtblau, CEO of BIPA: "We have been supporting Caritas Austria for many years with various aid projects, such as the initiative 'Aufrunder bewirken Wunder'. We are particularly proud of the successful fundraising campaign #Mütternhelfen, together with P&G, for the benefit of mother-child homes. In this way, we want to provide unbureaucratic and meaningful help to those who are also in acute emergency situations due to the Corona crisis. We are pleased that the long-standing partnership with P&G, together with Caritas Austria, achieves new charitable successes every year." 

"Millions of women and mothers also come in contact with our products every day in Austria. As one of the largest consumer goods manufacturers, we thus see it as our duty to actively provide help to those who are in direct emergency situations. We are proud that we have once again been able to achieve such success as part of the #Mütternhelfen fundraising campaign and through our long-standing partnership with BIPA. Especially at this special time, it is important for us to support Caritas in its great work," says Christian Zimlich, Country Manager P&G Austria. 

Female poverty also in Austria - over 510,000 women are affected 

1.16 million Austrians are at risk of poverty, more than half of them (513,000) are female and over 18 years of age. Single-parent households have the highest poverty risk of all household types with a rate of 32% - in Austria these are predominantly single women with their children. The corona pandemic is also making itself felt here: in January 2021, 140,000 people were considered long-term unemployed. Compared to the previous year, there is an increase of almost 47 % among women (men: +41.1 %). 

It is precisely these women who find help in the 12 Caritas mother-child houses in order to be able to rebuild a secure long-term future for themselves and their children. The women concerned are usually in an acute emergency situation when they come to the Caritas facilities with their children. In addition to a protective roof over their heads and products for their daily needs, the caregivers offer a wide range of counselling services: mothers can count on support with childcare and help with re-entering the workforce. Thanks to the BIPA and P&G fundraising campaign #Mütternhelfen, the psychological support has already been expanded and the emergency accommodation renovated. With this year's donation, the mother-child houses will be further modernised and the care services expanded. Especially now in the Corona crisis and not least because of the increasing domestic violence, the expanded counselling services are particularly important. 

Klaus Schwertner, Executive Caritas Director of the Archdiocese of Vienna, thanks all customers who helped with the initiative and the two partners BIPA and P&G: "The overall goal in our mother-child houses is to offer mothers and children in need a place of support, a roof over their heads and a new start in a secure environment. The need for donations for this important help is great. Therefore, we are very grateful for the continued support of strong and committed partners. Together with P&G and BIPA customers, we can help directly and give hope and confidence to children and their mothers, especially now during the Corona crisis." 

BIPA donates voucher cards to Caritas mother-child houses 

As social responsibility is of great importance to BIPA, BIPA got involved with another donation for mothers and children in addition to the #Mütternhelfen project. Again, this year, € 120,000 was donated in the form of voucher cards to the Caritas Mother-Child Houses. This support directly helps mothers and children. With the help of the voucher cards, necessary products such as nappies, baby food or hygiene products can be bought. This helps to return to an independent life.