Elisabeth Haidler - by Nigel A JAMES
Looking
to far away places to offer our help is simple and easy. But,
recognizing the need that's always in front of our eyes is
often impossible. Mostly, it's hidden behind masks that
smilingly tell of problem free living. And, this almost invisible
penury only breaks cover when things are almost too
late! And, when this happens it is help that is needed and fast!
And so, where does one go with one's sorrow when times become too
hard to handle? To people who care is the answer – and one such
very caring person is Elisabeth Haidler.
It
was the 7th of November, 2011. It was a cold windy night
that looked like the coming of winter and Elisabeth was on her way
home and she was cold, and, she was thinking. In her mind were the
growing number of people she was meeting on a regular basis who were
finding it hard to get
by. Not far away – but
right here in one of the most well-off cities on earth!
Something had to be done!
Being
a socialist city, Vienna was well equipped in dealing with personal
shortages. And, amongst organizations involved was the more than
excellent Volkshilfe (People's Help) - a
wonderful socialist volunteer organization attached to the socialist
party. But, in those days, it was not active in all districts and
parts of Vienna, and one of the gaps was Elisabeth's district. And,
gaps – when encountered
- are there to be filled!
And,
so it was, that after recognizing the need and seeing the solution
Elisabeth went into action. To begin with, she rounded up a group of
close associates, and then with just a small core of active
supporters came the gathering of funds and the action that
was needed. And, within just a very short space of time Elisabeth and
company were able to open the Volkshilfe 14th district of
Vienna's branch. And, so it still is.
And,
just like then, the Volkshilfe is supported by fund raising events
and personal membership fees, and everything that comes in goes to
the helping of people. Sometimes there are utility bills that can't
be met, and sometimes there's simply not the cash for the shopping or
even new shoes for the kids! But, whatever the help that is needed,
Elisabeth is there with assistance. And, thanks to her, and all
others involved, the lights are still burning where before there
would have been darkness!
The
battle against sorrow will never be won, but, thanks to
those like Elisabeth, the fronts of encounter need not be so drastic
as they were years ago!
Vocabulary
battle
– Kampf
break
cover (to break cover/broke cover/broken cover) – sich zeigen
core
– Kern
encountered
(to encounter/encountered/encountered)
– begegnet
gathering
- Sammeln
get
by (to get by/ got by/ got by – (gotten
by - (US)) – auskommen
hidden
– (to hide/hid/hidden) – verstecken
penury
– Armut
recognize
– erkennen
something
- etwas
sorrow
– Leid
well-off
- wohlhabend
