Luc Sheer from the Luxembourgish Red Cross appeared on the Sam Steen show on RTL Today Radio to talk about their annual donation drive.
Previously, members of the Red Cross would go door to door every April to collect cash donations from residents. However, the Covid pandemic, along with a demographic shift in the country, forced them to change their modus operandi.
Historically the drive took place over two weeks, but was eventually increased to span the entirety of the month, as many people leave the country during the Easter holidays.
Now with the younger generation, it has become increasingly harder to find people who are at home and who have cash on them. The Red Cross volunteer base is also becoming older.
What has worked well so far is to create personalised flyers placed in the mailboxes of previous donors.
Furthermore the organisation has also launched an online campaign under the #superdonor hashtag. According to Sheer, every donation is helpful, whether it’s €5, €50 or €500.
This annual donation drive is their largest source of income.
However the donations collected during the mois du don are not earmarked for any specific cause. They go to what the Red Cross qualifies as the most urgent needs. “This gives us great flexibility and it’s an extraordinary sign of trust”, says Sheer.
Most of the causes they support are national. Currently their main priority is funding for social housing, as even though they can provide 5,000 people with a bed to sleep in at night, they notice more and more that they have to turn people away.
To find out more about all the causes they support, listen to the full interview.
Croix Rouge Luxembourg’s Luc Scheer joined the Sam Steen Show to discuss their annual donation drive and the work that money goes to support.
The Red Cross is always looking for volunteers, especially the more local chapters. Whether that be to sell food at local events, to help refugees with their homework, to sort through second-hand clothes for those in need or to help at their food banks.
Find out more information and where you can donate on the Red Cross website.
Listen also: Luc Sheer talks about the Red Cross’ Earthquake response.
