St. Nicholas Visits Ronald McDonald House Jena
Once again this year, Kieback&Peter continued the cherished St. Nicholas tradition. On St. Nicholas Day, the Erfurt branch surprised the Ronald McDonald House Jena with homemade cookies and a variety of gifts, both big and small. The aim was to bring families a sense of normalcy during a challenging time.
The Ronald McDonald House Jena offers a temporary home for families of seriously ill children and has a long, moving history. Since its founding in 1992, it has provided relatives with a safe haven near the children’s hospital at Jena University Hospital. In 2021, the new building was inaugurated and equipped with technology from Kieback&Peter.
„In addition to controlling and ensuring all relevant systems, Kieback&Peter’s regulation guarantees clean and pure air throughout the building. This allows parents to recover and regain strength after long days at the clinic,” says Andreas Schreiber, Project Manager at the Erfurt branch.
Today, the facility gives around 250 families each year the opportunity to stay close to their children and connect with other parents in similar life situations.
A Living Tradition Since 1957
For nearly 70 years, Kieback&Peter has upheld the tradition of providing small treats to employees’ children and apprentices on St. Nicholas Day. Every year, about a thousand St. Nicholas bags are lovingly packed by dedicated employees at the Mittenwalde plant and then distributed. Over time, this custom has grown beyond the company’s own boundaries and regularly supports projects during the Christmas season—2023 the Bethel Children’s Center, 2024 the Mosaik School in Ludwigshafen, and this year the Ronald McDonald House in Jena.
Festive Cheer at the Ronald McDonald House
The communal kitchen was transformed into a Christmas bakery where cookies were baked for parents and children. For the remaining holiday season and to build excitement for Christmas Eve, the children received Advent calendars featuring the Füchse Berlin design. A special highlight was the donation of a new table tennis table, which will provide fun, distraction, and shared activities in the house—for parents, siblings, and the young patients themselves.
Branch Manager Christian Oberthür proudly shares: “The collaboration during the construction phase was already marked by great mutual appreciation. Today’s initiative shows even more clearly how important this facility is and how it is run by truly kind-hearted people. We are delighted to make everyday life a little easier for parents and staff with this small contribution.”
Kieback&Peter thanks the team at Ronald McDonald House Jena for their warm cooperation and tireless commitment to bringing moments of light to families during difficult times.
