Christmas in summer: Volunteering in the Muotathal

News

For once we didn’t just move people and brands, but stones, branches and bushes too! Our employees spent a day assisting a hill farming family in the Muotathal as part of the «Christmas in Summer» campaign.

A different kind of Christmas present

The background to this campaign dates back to 2018, when Andreas Messerli AG decided that in future it would dispense with Christmas gifts for customers and instead concentrate on social action.

The volunteer helpers for this campaign rolled up their sleeves for the first time in summer 2019 and gave hill farmers on the Säntisalp some enthusiastic assistance.

Practical work with direct benefits

This time, after an extended break due to coronavirus, it took the highly motivated employees to the Bürgler family in the picturesque Muotathal. On a sunny September day, it was once again time to leave behind the daily office grind and head up into the mountains. Still a little sleepy, but highly motivated, the 32 helpers took the bus to Innerschweiz, where they were warmly welcomed by the family and additional helpers. After a quick snack and practical introduction, it was time to get down to the hard work.

The weather did us proud and the helpers were able to complete their tasks in blazing sunshine. One part of the group removed stones from the slopes, and the other collected and burned bushes and shrubs. This clean-up work returned the meadow to the animals and, at the same time, maintained the cultural landscape in this mountain region.

The grand finale

As always, the helpers put the same effort into the day as their normal working day – in other words, all their hearts and a great deal of passion!

The shared lunch was used to good effect not only to recharge batteries, but also for lively discussions. In the afternoon work picked up exactly where it had left off. In the evening the team looked exhaustedly, but proudly, on a meaningful job well done.

We are already looking forward to our next day in the mountains!

The volunteers’ efforts were led and coordinated by the Caritas Foundation Switzerland. For more than 40 years, Caritas Switzerland has connected volunteers with Swiss mountain farming families in need, whether in the event of an emergency or during work-intensive periods.