The case in summary A single father from Porsgrunn is one of many who have accepted help from the Red Cross this Christmas. Due to health problems, he has been out of work for a long period, which makes Christmas financially difficult. Last year, funds for activities and gifts were requested for over 30,000 children, and the Red Cross has seen an increase of 1,000 inquiries since then. Rising food prices and higher interest rates affect the economy, which is confirmed by Siri Hatlen, president of the Red Cross. The Church’s City Mission confirms that the need for help is increasing. In collaboration with the Gjensidigestiftelsen’s Christmas campaign, the Norwegian Red Cross distributes almost 7 million to Red Cross district offices and local associations throughout the country this year. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I am not ashamed to get help. Not at all. I have worked all my life, and contributed myself, says a father of two to news. He is one of many who have accepted help from the Red Cross this Christmas. For health reasons, he has been out of work for a period. The single father has to turn over the krone in the first place, and thus Christmas becomes extra difficult to cope with financially. This year he gets gifts for the children from the so-called “Wishing Tree”. – It helps a lot. Out of consideration for the children, who are of school age, news has chosen not to identify the family by name. Several are asking for help The father from Porsgrunn is by no means alone. Last year, applications were made for funds for activities and gifts for over 30,000 children. Then the Red Cross sounded the poverty alarm. They hoped for brighter times, but the arrows are still pointing in the wrong direction. An increase of 1,000 inquiries since last year speaks for itself. Siri Hatlen, president of the Red Cross. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news Stiff food prices and higher interest rates undoubtedly affect the economy. Siri Hatlen, president of the Red Cross, can confirm that. This week she visited Porsgrunn to see how the volunteers work before Christmas. They have more than enough to do, both there and in the rest of the country. – We see it perhaps most clearly now, as Christmas approaches, she says. Empty plastic bags are waiting to be filled with gifts at the Red Cross in Porsgrunn. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news Kirkens Bymisjon recognizes the descriptions. The need for help is increasing, confirms secretary general Adelheid Firing Hvambsal. – Together with the price increase for everything we need, the situation is serious. It has become more and more demanding to have the finances to serve the children dinner as usual, and the Christmas celebration is difficult for many people to think about, she says. Secretary General of the Church’s City Mission, Adelheid Firing Hvambsal. Photo: Kirkens Bymisjon Overall, the number of children growing up in low-income families is nevertheless decreasing in Norway. Figures from Statistics Norway show this. That trend does not appear well on the wish lists of the aid organizations in Norway. In any case, Hatlen encourages everyone who needs it to take advantage of the opportunity. – It is our wish that the threshold for asking for help from those who need it should be as low as possible. Lie about what they got In collaboration with the Gjensidigestiftelsen’s Christmas campaign, the Norwegian Red Cross is handing out almost 7 million to Red Cross district offices and local associations across the country this year. It comes in handy, also in Porsgrunn. In this municipality alone, there are more than 800 children who receive gifts from the organisation. Siri Løite, leader of the Wishing Tree in Porsgrunn. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news – There are many people who need help. It’s sad. At the same time, it’s good to know that we exist, and can normalize Christmas a little, says Siri Løite, who hires the voluntary work from the local team with Ønsketreet. The father of a small child in Porsgrunn can sign it. – There is nothing to resist. Raise your head. There is no shame in getting help in the society we live in now. – How will this year’s Christmas be? – We already decorated last week. There is light everywhere, and soon we will make gingerbread houses. Christmas will be good. Published 08.12.2024, at 19.28
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