Those who are asked to pass on millions to those in need quickly come under suspicion of doing so improperly. This is also the opinion of the advisory committee that was supposed to distribute five million euros in immediate aid from michael stoschek and his sister christine volkmann as well as 44,677 euros from burgers for the fire victims as fairly as possible. In order to dispel suspicion and speculation, the committee had invited the press to an interview. "For us, only the need is decisive. And there are gross differences", says second mayor norbert tessmer (SPD). Because he wanted to spread the responsibility for the allocation of the donation money over several shoulders, he had brought independent partners into the advisory group. In addition to norbert tessmer, its members include manfred seemann from brose, frank jakobs from the chamber of commerce and industry, norbert hartz from the coburg charity association, city manager annette kolb and head of the social welfare office peter schubert.
They are all faced with the task of distributing the donated money from a social perspective. 40 tenants and 15 tradesmen are on the list of fire victims. Guidelines and criteria for direct aid were developed together with the main donors. "No two cases are alike. That's why we can't give everyone the same amount of X", explains norbert tessmer. A family with an apartment was entitled to a higher amount than the tenants who occupied only one room.
Financial aid was available to the victims as early as the week after the fire. And not only them. "If necessary, we also provided spiritual support", stresses the second mayor.
Support continues
And that's not the end of it: anyone who still needs help can make an appointment with the social welfare office. "Once again, the advisory committee decides on the grants on the basis of the information provided by the people concerned, as well as on the basis of evidence and proof." Norbert tessmer thus also addresses another much-discussed topic: "the donations from the burghers also go to all those who have been harmed." By the end of the year it will be clear what the insurances will pay out. Only then could the fundraising campaign be completed.
It became known a week ago that not all of christine volkmann's and michael stoschek's five million euros would be needed. A good two million euros will therefore now go to stadtbild coburg for the renovation of other coburg houses. One million euros to help a potential investor in the schlossplatz underground parking garage design the entrances and exits. If there is still money left at the end of the year, it will be used for the restoration of the building structure damaged by the fire.
Manfred seemann confirms that nothing will be taken back from the five-million-euro donation. He promises: "the victims will be compensated for everything that is socially relevant." Frank jakob also pledges further support from the chamber of commerce and industry. "We are in constant communication with the city management." City manager annette kolb contacted the traders immediately after the fire. "We were able to make alternative sites available relatively quickly." Only with the gastronomes there had been a few problems. "After completion of the buildings affected by the fire, however, all businesses want to return to herrngasse", she announces.
"Above all, the employees of the caritas association had taken care of the emotional support.", reports norbert hartz. It confirms that all decisions on offers of assistance will be made in accordance with the principle of necessity.