When an idea turns into active solidarity, the result is often something that has an impact far beyond a single action. The Jakal family from MINIHAUS Munich Tölzer Straße is participating in the "Christmas for Children of the Munich Food Bank" campaign for the third time . This year, they packed 35 gifts – an extraordinary effort that arose from deep conviction.
Awareness of inequality as motivation
The impetus for the Jakal family's commitment is a very personal one. It is the awareness of how natural it is for them to fulfill their children's wishes – and that this is by no means the case for all families.
"The idea that parents can't give their children anything for Christmas is just heartbreaking," says Michael Jakal, describing his feelings. This realization moved him deeply and led him to take an honest look at his own consumption and his own possibilities.
Corinna Jakal also emphasizes this aspect: for her, the campaign was a conscious moment of pause and gratitude. Grateful that they don't have to calculate when their children want something—and that they have the opportunity to pass on some of that.
Of the 35 gifts, the family financed 25 themselves, while another 10 were made possible by friends and relatives whom they were able to inspire to join the campaign. In this way, a family commitment turned into a small network of helpers.
Participate instead of just talking about it
It was particularly important to the Jakal family to actively involve their daughter Lynn. The five-year-old not only helped wrap the gifts, but also made her own decisions: she donated ten of her own stuffed animals to the campaign.
In doing so, Lynn developed an astonishingly concrete understanding of the needs of other children. She paid attention to whether gifts were intended for boys or girls, consciously chose appropriate toys, and even explained to friends at MINIHAUS why this action is so important.
The strength of the campaign: proximity and concreteness
The Jakal family emphasizes how effective the campaign is thanks to its concrete and personal nature. Packing real gifts and actively participating make all the difference compared to anonymous monetary donations.
This form of participation has even prompted the family to engage in other social activities, such as participating in other charitable campaigns. MINIHAUS is seen as an important initiator and multiplier that makes social engagement accessible, tangible, and possible for the community.
Hope for joy
One thought in particular accompanied the Jakal family: the hope that the children receiving the gifts would be happy—and that their parents would accept the help without shame, but rather as a gesture of solidarity.
The fact that the campaign is growing encourages her in her commitment. This year, a total of 350 gifts were collected from nine MINIHÄUSER, the IKC, and the IBSM. For the future, the family hopes that even more people, families, and companies will recognize how big an impact even relatively small contributions can have.
A commitment that continues to have an impact
For the Jakal family, the "Christmas for Children of the Munich Food Bank" campaign is much more than a one-off project. It is an opportunity to show gratitude, take responsibility, and set an example of empathy for children—values that will last long after Christmas is over.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the family for their extraordinary commitment and for showing how much can be achieved through joint action.
