For many years, we have been committed to connecting international donors willing to help with local communities where real needs exist. Once again, such a connection has led to tangible results. A long-time and loyal supporter of Caritas Catolica, Günther Wiedemann, President of Alb-Donau Rumänienhilfe from Germany, recognized the needs of the region and, on his own initiative, purchased a fire truck which he donated to the volunteer firefighters of Diosig.
This is not the first donation of this kind facilitated by Caritas. In previous years, Mr. Günther has already demonstrated his commitment to strengthening the region’s emergency response capacity. For example, last year he supported the Bihor County Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Association in the north-western region with standard firefighting uniforms. Established in 2020, the unit currently serves 11 rural municipalities and approximately 30,000 residents, ensuring fast and professional intervention in emergency situations.
The vehicle handed over last week will be stationed at the Volunteer Firefighters Training Center in Diosig, where it will primarily be used for practical training. Its equipment is particularly noteworthy. The pumps, hoses, and other technical gear were donated by brothers Michael and Christian Trachternach, through their fire protection company, Feuerwehrtechnik Trachtemach.
The donation process was carried out with the active involvement of Ilona Hegedűs, foreign affairs officer of Caritas Catolica. Her work illustrates that the organization is not merely an intermediary but an active participant in building partnerships and implementing projects.
The handover ceremony was attended by the mayor of Diosig, Attila-Ferencz Mados, a long-time supporter of the training center, as well as its leadership. President József Gönczi and vice president Sándor Elek Kiss presented the beginnings, development milestones, and the challenges they face in their daily work, emphasizing the importance of training well-prepared volunteers.
The event conveyed a clear message: such cooperation is not only exemplary but essential. For Caritas Catolica, it is of utmost importance to support initiatives that strengthen the sustainable and independent functioning of community efforts in the long term, and to continue building bridges between the intention to help and real needs.
