Establishment of the VARIOVAC Foundation
With the outbreak of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, our Managing Director, Jörg Reimer, immediately began bringing Ukrainian friends and their families to Zarrentin and the surrounding area. Together with many VARIOVAC employees, around 32 flats were organised, renovated, and fully furnished for 114 refugees. During the transitional period, local hotels generously offered support. The refugees were accompanied through all necessary official procedures – from visits to the Job Centre to school enrolment. Thanks to aid packages and donations, bicycles were provided, and leisure activities for children were made possible. A job fair organised jointly with local businesses resulted in 13 Ukrainians now working at VARIOVAC. To provide long-term support, the VARIOVAC Foundation was established on 1 December 2022. It also helps directly in Ukraine – for example, by supplying generators for households and a maternity unit near Kharkiv, as well as two light tower trailers and a fully equipped fire engine for one of the country’s key food producers, Globino. For this exceptional commitment, Jörg Reimer was awarded the honorary citizenship of the town of Zarrentin am Schaalsee on behalf of VARIOVAC. To continue our assistance, we kindly ask for your ongoing financial support. Thank you for your compassion and loyalty.
Foundation account
Account Holder: VARIOVAC Stiftung
IBAN: DE47 2003 0000 0030 4678 49
BIC: HYVEDEMM300
Reference: Ukraine
Help for Refugees in Germany: Housing, Registration & Job Search
Since the beginning of the war, we have brought 114 refugees from Ukraine to Germany. For them, we have renovated, furnished and fully equipped 32 flats with kitchens – largely funded from our own resources and supplemented by donations in kind. We have supported every newly arrived person with registration, school enrolment, job searches, finding accommodation, setting up their homes, transport, and leisure activities. A dedicated team of colleagues was on hand for this – many of whom were released from their regular duties at VARIOVAC to provide this support.
Direct Aid on the Ground in Ukraine
We are also supporting people in Ukraine directly. Thanks to donations, we have been able to procure numerous small generators, as well as lighting and heating systems, which are being used in emergency shelters such as community centres. One particularly impactful project: a 500 kVA diesel generator now supplies power to an entire maternity hospital in Kharkiv. In addition, we acquired a fully equipped fire engine, an SUV, and an armoured cash-in-transit vehicle. The latter is now being used to evacuate wounded individuals from heavily contested areas. All of these vehicles were personally collected by Ukrainian priests and brought directly to the front line.
Jörg Reimer Awarded Honorary Citizenship
On 19 January 2023, the town of Zarrentin hosted its New Year’s reception at the Zarrentin Monastery. Among the many guests from business, associations, and politics was our Managing Director, Jörg Reimer. What he didn’t know: In recognition of his outstanding commitment to supporting refugees from Ukraine – and as a representative of everyone involved at VARIOVAC – he was invited to sign the town’s Golden Book and was awarded honorary citizenship. The heartfelt tribute was delivered by our Director of Operations, Jürgen Füllbeck – a surprise that deeply moved Mr Reimer. We warmly congratulate Mr Reimer on this well-deserved honour!
Joint Relief Effort with Peter Mattfeld & Sohn GmbH
When we began our Ukraine relief efforts, one thing became clear right away: much can be achieved with strong partners by our side. We are therefore especially grateful for the spontaneous and generous support from Peter Mattfeld & Sohn GmbH in Hamburg. After learning about our commitment – particularly the provision of more than 30 apartments for refugee families in Zarrentin – Mattfeld quickly decided to take action. They reviewed their extensive product range and put together a care package for each household: filled with food, hygiene products, coffee, tea, and many other essentials to make everyday life easier. The packages were delivered directly to us in Zarrentin, where we handled the distribution. A heartfelt thank-you to the entire Mattfeld team for this wonderful act of solidarity and humanity.
Financial Support for the Svyatenko Rehabilitation Clinic
The Variovac Foundation is providing financial assistance to the Svyatenko Rehabilitation Clinic to help maintain daily operations under challenging conditions. With our support, drainage work has already been completed, electricity and water costs for October 2024 have been covered, and specialised beds for palliative care patients have been purchased. In addition, firewood has been provided for the winter, and materials for renovating the X-ray room have been procured. We thank the clinic for their tireless dedication and vital work.
Financial support for City of Goodness
Thanks to the support of the Variovac Foundation, the charitable organisation City of Goodness in Ukraine was able to receive impactful assistance through a generous donation. The funds were used to provide essential resources for the residents of the shelter – including food, hygiene products, medication, and electricity. This support helped maintain urgently needed services and significantly improved the daily lives of many children and families in need.
NORDMETALL Reports on Our Support for Ukraine
In a video feature by NORDMETALL, our Managing Director Jörg Reimer and Olha Zavodovska – who fled Ukraine herself – offer insights into VARIOVAC’s humanitarian efforts. The report highlights how we provide not only safe housing for refugees in Zarrentin, but also real prospects and personal support – with compassion, dedication, and team spirit.
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