When a woman without a home feels like a queen and a man without a job is moved to declare all helpers crazy, then the REWE Group has once again invited people to a Christmas dinner in Cologne's Gürzenich ballroom.
Jan Kunath stands on the stage of the festively decorated hall, which is filled to the last seat, and thinks for a moment. The REWE Group Management Board member has warmly welcomed the guests to the Christmas party, which his company has hosted for the sixth time in Cologne's Gürzenich festival centre, he talks about his Christmas and then the presenter asks him what he wishes for everyone. "Peace," prompts someone from the room. Kunath nods and adds: "And a certain degree of normality."
There will be peace at this Christmas dinner for 800 people with whom life has not been so kind. But for most of them, this afternoon with a three-course meal and entertainment programme will not be normal. It will be something very special.
An hour earlier, a brightly blinking Christmas tree on stilts rehearses its singing voice in the high, festively lit foyer, accompanied by Father Christmas with his squeezebox and an angel on the saxophone. Right next to him, Christian Pagano from the REWE Group events team gathers 16 colleagues in polo shirts with a clearly recognisable REWE Group logo around him to give them a preview of the Christmas dinner and their tasks. They had all applied to the event team to help out at the charity Christmas party that afternoon and give back a bit of their own good life. "I'm glad that we can finally get going again after Corona, as the topic is more topical than ever," says Pagano, alluding to the current crisis, which is undoubtedly causing even more people to slip into poverty.
Cologne's parlour, the Gürzenich, presented itself in festive style
In the morning, another troop of REWE Group colleagues was there, decorating the hall and packing 800 gift bags for young and old in record time. The first guests gathered outside the door, while in the foyer, Arbeiterwohlfahrt, Caritas, the Cologne Unemployment Centre Kalz and Kölner Tafel set up reception stands. Each of the four organisations has distributed 200 tickets fairly to the people they are responsible for. "The charitable organisations cover the entire spectrum and know best who to invite," says Pagano, explaining the collaboration. When the doors of the Gürzenich open, this entire spectrum comes streaming in. Senior citizens with rollators, well-groomed hairstyles and a Cologne twang, stooped gentlemen with fine hair in chequered jackets that don't flutter around them for fashion reasons. People with disabilities and people with dementia in friendly company, mothers with a migrant background, carefully made-up teenagers from residential groups and homeless people who reluctantly or prefer not to leave their belongings at the cloakroom in a rucksack, a sports bag or three bags. They patiently push their way into the foyer of the Gürzenich and marvel at the venerable venue with its huge staircase, in front of which the singer in the flashing Christmas tree costume intones "O du Fröhliche".
A festive menu awaited the guests
Built around 600 years ago, the Gürzenich has always been a place of celebration, dancing and merriment for emperors, kings and carnival princes, for Cologne's dignitaries and guests of honour. The guests of honour on this afternoon look around hesitantly to see what's next.
This is where the REWE Group helpers come in. Their job is quickly outlined: "You welcome, help and provide guidance," says Event Manager Pagano. "You take away people's fears. And please don't be afraid of contact yourself." And so some people guide those arriving to the cloakroom or point out the toilets, while others show those with rollators, wheelchairs, walking frames, buggies and pushchairs the way to the hidden lift that leads to the first floor. This is the ballroom where the REWE Group's charity Christmas dinner will take place over the next three hours.
The welcome by REWE Group Management Board member Jan Kunath is followed by the appetiser, accompanied by the many-voiced "Feliz Navidad" from a children's choir dressed for Christmas.
Between the starter and main course, the guests, slightly intimidated by the splendour, slowly start to move. Headless chocolate Father Christmases are placed in empty seats, bitten into by excited kids who quickly swap the contemplative table for the more exciting children's programme at the back of the hall. "Children have a lot more magic than adults," says the magician to his audience of seated spectators. Perhaps the magic of being able to stagger away from everyday life on this afternoon with colourful make-up and on mini stilts. While the juggling balls and diavolos fly at the back, the Toom band lounges at the front of the stage. Accompanied by their casual, jazzy sound, people warm up to each other and the conversations under the gigantic disco ball become livelier.
Rollator parade in front of the ballroom: people with limited mobility also found their way to the celebration
Shortly before the main course, a small, delicate woman with a long plait leaves the hall to have a quick smoke outside the entrance. She stops at the top of the sweeping staircase. "You know, I'm from Barcelona, now I'm on the street. Here I feel like a queen, like a princess". With a sweeping gesture that almost throws her off balance, she describes the hall, the huge double staircase, the team of chefs in the anteroom putting the food from the prepared warming trays onto hot plates and the service staff holding them with napkins and taking them to their seats as they run. Because on this day, all guests are served, no one takes their own food, no one queues for it. "Service to the guest," Christian Pagano calls it, "they should not have to worry about anything and enjoy a carefree day."
From main course to dessert, from performance to performance, from afternoon to evening, the atmosphere in the hall becomes more carefree. Meanwhile, the helpers from the REWE Group team prepare to say goodbye. Between the cloakroom and the exit, they prepare themselves and the 800 or so St Nicholas bags that their colleagues have filled in the morning. In view of the crisis, the bags have been adapted this year: not so much sweets, but toys for the children and a REWE shopping voucher worth 20 euros for the adults.
Then the party is over, the guests are streaming towards the exit, the helpers have their hands full handing over the bags, asking them to keep the REWE voucher safe, wishing them a Merry Christmas and a safe journey home..
"Home? I live on the street," says a woman with a large rucksack and a sleeping mat balanced on it. She doesn't say this unkindly, but rather points out a fact. Behind her, a slender man almost disappears into his two large coats, which he carefully scans pocket by pocket until he finds the safest place for the shopping voucher. He then grabs his belongings with both hands and leaves the warm Gürzenich into the cold winter evening. There is little time to think about him, the queue is long, the children, the teenagers, the single mothers, the Cologne senior citizens who are eloquently happy. Those who don't know or have any words nod silently.
And then, almost at the end, the helpers handing out the bags receive the greatest compliment a true Cologne resident can give. "You're all crazy," says a skinny guy with a thick rucksack, beaming a slightly damaged glow, "dat two-star menu, dat whole programme, the Jeschenke ... You're crazy!"
Initiated and organised by REWE Group's own event team led by Frank Bartels, the charity Christmas party took place for the first time in 2015. After a forced break of two years due to the coronavirus, REWE Group once again invited around 800 people, including 120 children, to Cologne's renowned Gürzenich festival venue for a three-course meal, accompanied by an extensive musical programme and games.
The guest list is compiled by four Cologne charity organisations, including Kölner Tafel, Arbeiterwohlfahrt and Caritas. The event team is supported by colleagues from Cologne who volunteer to either pack gift bags or make sure the guests feel at home in the afternoon. There is a great deal of interest: over 200 employees registered for the 40 or so volunteer positions this year.
"I've been involved since the first Christmas dinner. I liked and still like the opportunity to give something back, because we are doing well. I also get something in return. It's nice to experience the enthusiasm, gratitude and moments of happiness of the participants. Children and older people in particular are very grateful to be able to take part in the REWE Christmas party. When you have experienced this, you go through life with more humility. When I meet homeless people today, I no longer look away, I look people in the eye. That's why I can definitely recommend the volunteer work in Cologne's Gürzenich to all my colleagues."
"The visitors from our girls' group were very moved because everything was so festive and celebratory. The young women really filmed and photographed everything. For one participant, who is vegan because of the Coptic fasting and Advent season, it was very nice to see how easily a vegan main course and dessert were prepared for her. She was particularly pleased that there was a Barbie in her skin colour in the Santa bag for her daughter. I think it was particularly successful to see that a large company like REWE Group really tries to reflect diverse society."
"My first task was to greet people and give them a warm welcome. They are looking forward to the party, are excited and unsure, but also relieved when I tell them that the cloakroom is free, for example. In addition to the guests with walking frames, some others also want to be guided to their seats. It's a joy to see the children's wide eyes as they catch sight of the reception committee, the singing Christmas tree and the giant Father Christmas. In previous years, I was twice assigned to spend the morning packing St Nicholas bags. You don't have any contact with people you invite to this job, but you get to know a lot of people from other areas of REWE Group, which is also nice. I can recommend volunteering as a helper because it helps to broaden your perspective. You come down to earth and realise that we helpers are doing really well."
"It was a successful evening with great organisation, good food and very good entertainment!the icing on the cake was a Christmas bag with Father Christmas, mandarins, peanuts, a small thermos flask and a REWE gift card. Mrs B. was blissfully happy and said: "Heart, what more could you want!!!"
"It was fun and the food was delicious."
"You don't always go there and there was a choir - they sang beautifully too."
Both German and English comments appear here.
I think it's great that REWE is offering this opportunity. I would have loved to help and support, but maybe it will work out next year. On the other hand, it's great that so many employees volunteer to help that not everyone can make it. :-) Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!
Yes, the REWE Group carnival parties are legendary, the REWE Group Christmas parties are wonderful, the REWE Group May Festival is top notch - but this REWE Group charity event tops everything and is the most beautiful event I have ever attended or been able to support - many thanks to all those who make this possible & participate - the sparkle in the eyes and the incredulous, but also delighted, just too touched, faces and gestures of the guests cannot be paid for with any money in the world and is a huge gift ????
A really great campaign that once again makes me proud to work at REWE. I'm always stunned that people have to live on the streets in such a rich country. Especially with the current temperatures. Thank you to everyone who organised and helped!