History The ProKids Foundation has films made about Schwenningen's past. There will be a public premiere in November and the DVD is intended to be used as learning material for schoolchildren.

but one shoot at Orca, and then all the sequences are in the can. The film service provider Aromadeck filmed for two years in Schwenningen on behalf of the ProKids Foundation. The result is a city portrait that depicts the turbulent industrial history of the district in the here and now. Consequently, the cameramen started their work on July 6, 2019, when Schwenningen celebrated the 200th birthday of its industrial pioneer Johannes Bürk - the man who ensured the connection to the railway network at the time
and thus triggered the economic boom 150 years ago during the founding period. Behind the film project is Joachim Spitz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and maker at ProKids. He wants to make a contribution to the history education of the VS students. "I want to bring Schwenninger history into the classroom," he says. The target group is 12 to 15 year olds. The idea came to him when he read in the newspaper that the Schwenningen local history museum can only be visited in small groups for reasons of fire protection.

Got pondered

This got him thinking and finally the idea of having a film made about the past that could be distributed to the schools free of charge and used in the classroom. Because history is also a bit of an identity that you lose when there are fewer eyewitnesses.

Joachim Spitz ran into open doors from the mayor; Jürgen Roth thought the project was a good one and, in the person of the freelance cultural scientist Dr. Sabine Dietzig shift for municipal support. She accompanied the film project on behalf of the municipality and took part in numerous meetings with local history experts who also contributed their knowledge - first and foremost Dr. Annemarie-Conradt-Mach and Siegfried Heinzmann from the Schwenninger Heimatverein.

"I would like Schwenninger story into the classroom bring."

And of course there was Dr. Michael Hütt at the table, the head of the Watch Industry Museum. City guide Michael Kopp also contributed to the historical city portrait, which consists of two parts of 35 minutes each. He reports competently on the early days and what happened in Schwenningen back then.

One of the backdrops for a Kopp interview is the Kienzle Villa bathhouse, which manufacturer Jakob Kienzle had built for his daughters around 100 years ago. Joachim Spitz is enthusiastic: "Although I was born in Schwenningen, I didn't know a lot of what Michael Kopp tells in the film either."

Film is pressed on DVD
Aromadeck filmmakers are currently in the process of reviewing the footage and inserting final sequences. The film will then be edited over the summer. Selected scenes from the production are also to be used for an image clip that the city of Schwenningen intends to publish on the Internet. This was of particular concern to the mayor. However, the main work is not available online. It will be pressed on DVD and later given to interested people from Schwenningen in return for a donation – the schools, on the other hand, will receive the data carriers free of charge. A public premiere is planned for mid-November either in the "Capitol" or in the Neckarhalle - with NECKARQUELLE as media partner. Before the film is shown on the big screen, there will be a discussion with those involved: Mayor Jürgen Roth, Joachim Spitz, Siegfried Heinzmann and Michael Kopp will talk about the development of the industrial city of Schwenningen.

On July 6, 2019, the NECKARQUELLE celebrated the connection of Schwenningen to the railway network and thus the beginning of industrialization with the journey of the historic steam train. On this day, the recordings for the ProKids Foundation film about the more recent local history of Schwenningen began.
Photo: NQ Archives

Thank you again for your support of the ProKids Foundation's aid package campaign.

The output is now working smoothly, in Schwenningen by the local association Schwenningen and in Villingen by the local association Villingen. Coordinated by the rescue service management of the SBK.

We have now distributed 400 aid packages, each aid package is calculated in such a way that a family of 4 will be fed for 14 days. Donated by my co-founders, so that the money does not have to be taken from the current foundation pot. Thanks for that. Some of them also with baby food. Now another 200 packages have been packed, these will be made available in the course of the week.

We also deliver individual packages if the people are not mobile for whatever reason.

Unfortunately, the action was shamelessly exploited. This made me quite sad and angry as the requirements were clearly communicated. Some of the people were impudent, unreasonable and cheeky. That's why we drew conclusions.

No welfare recipients, no Harz 4 recipients and no housing benefit recipients. We only want to help families and single parents who have been in dire straits due to Corona.

E.g. bus drivers who have not been allowed to drive for half a year, gastronomy employees who have not been allowed to work since November, all those who have short-time work or who have lost their job due to Corona. Of course, short-time work benefits do not count as state aid.

We are not relieving the state here, we wanted to help unbureaucratically.

Unfortunately, it's not that easy. The affected people must immediately contact us by email atinfo@prokids-stiftung.dereport, then it will be decided whether you belong to the group of people we want to address or not.

When you receive the confirmation email from us, the new pick-up times will also be mentioned.

The names are then sent to the DRK so that the employees there know exactly who is authorized. Without this procedure NO more help packages will be distributed.

We will send away everyone who has not received a confirmation email. It makes me very sad, but there is no other way to regulate it.

I ask you again to support us and take that with you.

Many many thanks.

Stay healthy!

Best regards

Joachim Spitz

Picture (from right to left):

Issuing office in Schwenningen with the responsible persons:

Mr. Rainer Kühl, head of the rescue service, Mr. Sven Maurer, DRK on-call service, Isabell Sapski, office manager, DRK-Ortsverein Schwenningen eV, Tim Arnold, rescue service

Joachim Spitz, ProKids Foundation

Aid packages at changed opening hours

The package campaign by the ProKids Foundation for families and single parents who are in need due to Corona is a complete success. Families in need have been able to pick up free food packages from the foundation at the Red Cross in Villingen and Schwenningen since mid-February.

With extra money, which comes 100 percent from the co-founders and therefore does not burden the foundation coffers, ProKids put together 500 care packages in mid-February, which are designed to meet the needs of a family for two weeks. There is a range for families with babies and small children and a range of food for families with older children. The offer was well received - around 100 parcels were collected from the DRK in Villingen and Schwenningen within the first two weeks. "Arithmetically, that's 20 packages per working day," says Joachim Spitz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The co-founders and patron of the campaign, Lord Mayor Jürgen Roth, are also enthusiastic about the unexpectedly good response.

“Families who are in need due to Corona should not hesitate. Those who are on the losing side should also get help. There is no shame in getting help in a difficult situation that is not your fault,” Spitz appealed to the target group at the start of the campaign. Parents who are affected by short-time work or unemployment as a result of the pandemic should be relieved in this difficult situation by the packages. Namely, efficiently and unbureaucratically no Harz 4 and housing benefit recipients are supported. The parcels are therefore delivered anonymously via the DRK. Organized by the district association of the DRK for the SBK, distributed by the rescue service. Those who collect it can simply report to the DRK buildings in Villingen and Schwenningen and receive a package. However, the Red Cross has changed its opening hours with immediate effect.

Now the families can choose their package each Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m pick up.

Joachim Spitz makes it clear that parcel collection does not have to be a one-time action. "Families and single parents who are in financial distress due to Corona can come back and pick up another package after two weeks, of course - as long as their bottleneck persists." financed by needy families. "The number of families in need has increased significantly over the course of the pandemic," says Joachim Spitz.

This has made the situation worse. Families with a single breadwinner in particular quickly reach their limits when there is a sustained loss of income with the same running costs. "We can provide up to 800 food packages," says the head of the foundation. “It is important to us that word of our offer of help gets around. Neighbors or acquaintances should talk about it so that the message also reaches those who really need help.

At ProKids, however, we do not mean recipients who are already taking advantage of public assistance, but rather families and single parents who otherwise earn their living from their own resources. At the moment, however, this is only checked with random samples when the parcel is handed over.



Info: The ProKids aid packages are available from the DRK, rescue station Schwenningen Alleenstraße 3, and the local association building Villingen, Benediktinerring 9. Anyone who is not mobile and lives far away from a DRK station, for example in a district, can be supplied with an aid package. Interested parties can send an email to info@prokids-stiftung.de.

ProKids Foundation helps families

There is a great need in Villingen-Schwenningen

Social affairs: 200 packages from the ProKids Foundation have already been used in the first two weeks

The ProKids Foundation helps families or single mothers who are in need due to the corona crisis with food packages. After just two weeks, 200 aid packages had already been used.

VS Schwenningen. The package campaign by the ProKids Foundation for families and single parents who are in need due to Corona is a complete success, according to those responsible after only two weeks. Families in need have been able to pick up free food packages from the foundation at the Red Cross in Villingen and Schwenningen since mid-February.

With extra funds, which come 100 percent from the co-founders and therefore do not burden the foundation coffers, ProKids put together 500 care packages in mid-February, which are designed to meet the needs of a family for two weeks. There is a range for families with babies and small children and a range of food for families with older children (we reported).

The offer was well received - around 100 parcels were collected from the DRK in Villingen and Schwenningen within the first two weeks. "Arithmetically, that's 20 packages per working day," says Joachim Spitz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The co-founders and patron of the campaign, Mayor Jürgen Roth, are also enthusiastic about the unexpectedly good response, according to a press release.

"Families who are in need due to Corona should not hesitate. Those who are on the losing side should also get help. There is no shame in getting help in a difficult situation that is not your fault," appealed Spitz Start of the campaign to the target group. Parents who are affected by short-time work or unemployment as a result of the pandemic should be relieved in this difficult situation by the packages. And we do it efficiently and unbureaucratically. However, Harz IV and housing benefit recipients are not supported.

Not a one time thing

The parcels are handed over anonymously by the DRK - organized by the district association of the DRK for the Black Forest-Baar district, distributed by the emergency services. Those who collect it can simply report to the DRK buildings in Villingen and Schwenningen and receive a package. However, the Red Cross has changed its opening hours with immediate effect. Collection is now possible on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.



Joachim Spitz makes it clear that parcel collection does not have to be a one-time action. "Families and single parents who are in financial distress due to Corona can come back and pick up another package after two weeks, of course - as long as their bottleneck persists."

The number of families in need has increased significantly over the course of the pandemic, says Joachim Spitz. This has made the situation worse. Families with one sole breadwinner in particular quickly reach their limits when there is a sustained loss of income combined with constant running costs. "We can provide up to 800 food packages," says the head of the foundation. "It is important to us that word of our offer of help gets around. Neighbors or acquaintances should talk about it so that the message also reaches those who really need help."

The ProKids aid packages are available from the DRK, rescue station Schwenningen, Alleenstrasse 3, and the local association building in Villingen, Benediktinerring 9. Anyone who is not mobile and lives far away from one of the collection points can be supplied with an aid package. Interested parties can send an email to info@prokids-stiftung.de.

Photo (above):

They take care of the help (from left): Gerhard Fuchs, Managing Director of the DRK district association, Ralf Hirt from the DRK, Joachim Spitz and Rainer Kühl, DRK rescue service manager. Photo: ProKids Photo: Schwarzwälder Bote

The ProKids Foundation provides food packages to families and single parents who are in need due to Corona. The free food for those affected is financed by "co-founders".

VS-Schwenningen - The corona pandemic is a major stress test for Familyn and single parents. As a result of short-time work or job loss, there are also in Villingen-Schwenningen some in dire financial straits. This is where the ProKids Foundation wants to help: From Wednesday, February 17, there will be free food packages for families in need, the foundation announced in a press release. "The co-founders approached me and explained that they absolutely wanted to help in this situation," says Joachim Spitz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. "They are financing this campaign 100 percent. This means that the funds required do not go beyond the general budget available to our foundation."

With the extra Money 500 care packages are first put together, which are designed to meet the needs of a family for two weeks. There is a range for families with babies and small children and a range of food for families with older ones Children n.

help donors

The campaign also finds other supporters who help with donations, the foundation announced. The E-Center Culinara in Schwenningen packs the packages and gives the foundation the groceries at a special price, Steffen Würth, Managing Director of Straub-Ver Verpackungen GmbH, provides the packaging boxes, Univent-Medical GmbH gives free FFP2 masks for each package, and Autohaus Zeisberg Corse is donating the majority of a car that can be used to deliver the packages to the immobile families. "It's wonderful how much support the ProKids Foundation receives when it starts a new project," enthuses Joachim Spitz, full of gratitude.

Since its inception, the foundation has paid for a warm school lunch for children from needy families. This offer has always been well received in the twin cities. The package promotion is now intended as a supplement; At ProKids, it is assumed that the circle of needy families has expanded significantly in the times of Corona. Unpaid electricity bills, rent arrears, a defective refrigerator or a washing machine - the list of reasons why families are under pressure in the current situation with reduced income is long.

This is exactly where ProKids VS comes in to help quickly, efficiently and, above all, unbureaucratically. The situation has escalated, especially during the lockdown, when the schools are also closed - needy children can no longer enjoy the school meals financed by the foundation, and at home money is even tighter than usual. Joachim Spitz knows that some who is used to earning his own living, it will not be easy to take advantage of the new offer of help. But he says: “Families who are in need due to Corona should not hesitate. Those who are on the losing side should also get help. There is no shame in getting help in a difficult situation that is not your fault. "

Collection from the DRK

He hopes that word of the foundation's offer will get around and appeals to people's honor not to take advantage of it and only use it for those who really need it. That's the only way it's really unbureaucratic. "It's important to tell others about it, like neighbors or acquaintances, so that they too can get help." However, the foundation emphasizes: "Recipients of Hartz IV and housing benefit are not supported, they already get help from the office through the participation package."

It was important to the organizers and the patron of the campaign, Mayor Jürgen Roth, to lower the inhibition threshold for collectors as much as possible. That's why the recipients can easily get the food parcels from the Red Cross in Villingen and Schwenningen. "Our offer is not aimed at families who are already supported by the office," emphasizes Joachim Spitz. However, this is not checked; the parcels are delivered in good faith.

The packages are available from Wednesday, February 17, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the German Red Cross (DRK) at the rescue station in Schwenningen (garage) at Alleenstrasse 3 and in the local association building in Villingen (teaching hall), Benediktinerring 9. The ProKids Foundation would still like to take care of people who are not mobile and live far away from a DRK station, for example in a district. They can also be supplied with an aid package if necessary. "This is the case, for example, when it comes to a mother without a car and with very small children who she cannot leave alone," says Joachim Spitz. In this case, interested parties could send an email to info@prokids-stiftung.de and ask for home delivery.

Photo: Fast and unbureaucratic help: Mayor Jürgen Roth (left), patron of the foundation, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Joachim Spitz tackle the aid packages. Photo: ProKids Foundation

Packages are intended to alleviate the worst of hardship

The ProKids Foundation provides families and single parents who are in need due to Corona with food. Those affected can pick up the relief supplies from the Red Cross.

The corona pandemic is a major stress test for families and single parents. As a result of short-time work or job loss, some people in Villingen-Schwenningen have also got into financial difficulties. This is where the ProKids Foundation wants to help: From Wednesday, February 17, there will be free food packages for families in need.

Co-founders finance campaign

"The co-founders approached me and explained that they absolutely wanted to help in this situation," says Joachim Spitz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “They finance this campaign 100 percent. This means that the funds required do not deviate from the general budget available to our foundation.”

The extra funds will initially be used to put together 500 care packages that are designed to meet the needs of a family for two weeks. There is a range for families with babies and small children and a range of food for families with older children. Other donors think the idea is great and immediately pledged their support.

"It's wonderful how much support the ProKids Foundation receives when it starts a new project," enthuses Joachim Spitz and thanks him for it.

Efficient and unbureaucratic

Since its inception, the foundation has paid for a warm school lunch for children from needy families. This offer has always been well received in the twin cities. The package promotion is now intended as a supplement; At ProKids, it is assumed that the number of families in need has expanded significantly in the times of Corona. Unpaid electricity bills, rent arrears, a defective refrigerator or washing machine - the list of reasons why families are under pressure in the current situation with reduced income is long. This is exactly where ProKids VS comes in, and as always, the aim is to help quickly, efficiently and, above all, unbureaucratically. The situation has escalated particularly during the lockdown, when schools are also closed - poor children can no longer enjoy the school meals financed by the foundation, and at home money is even tighter than usual.

Joachim Spitz knows that some people who are used to making a living themselves will not find it easy to take advantage of the new offer of help. But he says: “Families who are in need due to Corona should not hesitate. Those who are on the losing side should also get help. There is no shame in asking for help in a difficult situation that is not your fault.”

He hopes that word of the foundation's offer will get around and appeals to people's honor that it will not be taken advantage of, and only those who really need this help will use it. This is the only way to do it really unbureaucratically "It is important that you also tell others about it, neighbors or acquaintances, for example, so that they can also get help." No Hartz 4 and housing benefit recipients are supported, they already get them through the participation package from office help.

It was important to the organizers and the patron of the campaign, Mayor Jürgen Roth, to lower the inhibition threshold for collectors as much as possible. That's why the recipients can easily get the food parcels from the Red Cross in Villingen and Schwenningen.

Good faith

"Our offer is not aimed at families who are already supported by the office," emphasizes Joachim Spitz. However, this is not checked; the parcels are delivered in good faith. The packages are available from Wednesday, February 17th, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on "Ash Wednesday", organized by the DRK rescue service Schwarzwald Baar, at the DRK, rescue station Schwenningen (garage) Alleenstraße 3, and the local association building Villingen (classroom) Benediktinerring 9, available.

Delivery if necessary

The foundation would also like to take care of people who are not mobile and live far away from a DRK station, for example in a district. They can also be supplied with an aid package if necessary. "This is the case, for example, when it comes to a mother without a car and with very small children who she cannot leave alone," says Joachim Spitz. In this case, interested parties could send an email to info@prokids-stiftung.de and request home delivery. eb