Switzerland offers a second Christmas

A volunteer sorts out some of the unwanted presents Keystone

The festive season may almost be over, but work has just begun in Bern on a second "Christmas", whereby unwanted presents donated by the Swiss will be given to the needy.

Postal vans carrying unwanted or surplus Christmas gifts from all over Switzerland are arriving at the Swiss Red Cross supply depot in Bern, where over 150 volunteers will unpack and sort them for distribution in Switzerland, Bulgaria, Belarus and Rumania as part of the “Twice Christmas” charity campaign.

The campaign organisers, the Swiss Red Cross, the Swiss Post Office and the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation -of which swissinfo is a part– are expecting the depot to be flooded with gifts, which are just being delivered.

Plenty of parcels

Last year, a record 70,000 parcels were collected, which were subsequently distributed to 150,000-200,000 people. “We hope to follow on from last year’s record year,” said Karl Schuler of the Swiss Red Cross.

The idea behind the appeal, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, is to give people the opportunity to put their unwanted or surplus gifts to good use instead of throwing them away or storing them at the back of cupboards.

From Christmas Eve until January 7, members of the public are being encouraged to bring unwanted presents to any Swiss post office, from which they are sent free of charge to the supply depot in Bern. Presents will be distributed from next week until May.

Gift distribution

The Swiss Red Cross particularly asks for food, toiletries, stationery and children’s toys, as they are the most useful items. But other items are also gratefully received. “There are very few things that have not been sent out over the last years,” said Schuler.

The first packages containing perishable goods such as cakes and biscuits, will be distributed in the Bern region.

Bulgaria will receive its first delivery of children’s shoes, school equipment and non-perishable goods at the end of January. The goods will be distributed among schools, nurseries, nursing homes and to single-parent families.

Day nurseries, night shelters for the homeless, nursing homes and the social services in 22 Swiss cantons will also receive a share of the goods, allowing the needy to enjoy a late Christmas.

swissinfo with agencies