TÜV NORD spendet Winterjacken an Obdachlose

The technical service provider based in Hanover has had new and well-preserved uniforms reworked by the women of the integrative sewing project Taschentalent and handed them over to the drug contact café (Neues Land e.V.) and Obdachlosenhilfe e.V. in Hanover.

The blue winter jackets are weatherproof and warm. Some of the jackets are returns from the TÜV NORD locations, others are unworn and have been discarded due to the now outdated company logo. “It was our heartfelt wish to donate the robust jackets to people who need them most,” says Sabine Spieker from TÜV NORD, who was instrumental in driving the campaign forward. “These jackets have served our employees well in the past and we are confident that they will serve those who receive them now just as well.”

The jackets could not be passed on one-to-one to the new owners. For legal reasons, all company logos had to be removed in advance. “A colleague found out about the Taschentalent sewing project from Wedemark. We asked them if they could make the logos unrecognizable for a donation,” Spieker continues. Lisa Hartmann, who runs the sewing community of refugee and non-refugee women together with her team, was enthusiastic about the idea. “We have already sewn bags, cushions and other products from advertising banners and donated materials in the past. We were therefore delighted to receive the order from TÜV NORD. We didn't just want to cover the logos, we wanted to give the jackets a new, unique design,” says Lisa Hartmann. Now the jackets are adorned with colorful appliqués, snap hooks or pockets for pens.

The fundraising campaign was carried out in collaboration with local charities that specialize in supporting needy and homeless people. One of these is the SOS Bistro of the Neues Land association, a daytime meeting place for addicted and homeless people, where food and drinks are offered at cost price, but there is also the opportunity to shower, do laundry and make use of a clothing store. Manager Reinhard Grammlich is convinced that the jackets will quickly find buyers. “Many addicts come to us regularly. We always have an open ear and provide support wherever we can. When we receive help and a company takes its social responsibility seriously, we are naturally delighted,” says Grammlich.

A further 50 jackets from the TÜV NORD stock are to be handed over to the seamstresses at Taschentalent in the near future. So that they too can be turned into valuable one-offs. “The winter is still ahead of us. We have learned that every jacket makes a difference. That's why I'm delighted that our Group wants to continue this project,” says Sabine Spieker.

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