Zharity Newsletter - December 2025 (UPDATED DATE for Coffee Talk)

You’re wrapping gifts, we’re wrapping up our work for the year!

Engagement Opportunities

Announcing the Zharity Corporate Partner Program

Zharity is proud to launch our new Corporate Partner Program, inviting companies across Zürich to join us in creating sustainable community impact. As a 100% volunteer-based nonprofit, Zharity relies on Corporate Partnerships to support our local work — including our redistribution network and essential-needs efforts that directly support our Community Partners.

Through the program, partners gain access to hands-on, team-building volunteer activities that make a visible local difference while strengthening employee engagement and corporate culture.

The program offers flexible partnership levels with benefits such as social media recognition, dedicated team events, and opportunities to sponsor seasonal goods collections. In-kind contributions are also welcomed.

The Corporate Partner Program helps Zharity to plan ahead, reach more communities, and drive meaningful outcomes. For more information on how your company can get involved, please reach out to us at: president@zharity.ch

January Zharity Coffee Talk for New and Existing Members

We are hosting an IN PERSON Zharity Coffee Talk on Thursday, January 29th at 9:30 AM at The Bridge in Europa Allee. This is an opportunity to learn more about Zharity and our open volunteering opportunities, and to have your questions answered. Whether you are an existing volunteer and/or Verein member or are new to Zharity and want to learn more, we welcome you to join us. Click here to register.

Winter Clothing Donations

We’ve closed our wishlist for the holiday break. Thank you all for your generous donations, you’ve been keeping our unit team busy and our community partners very happy!

Our wishlist will open again January 5, at which point we will once again be accepting winter clothing - both indoor and outdoor. We’re looking forward to hearing from you in the new year!

Spread the Holiday Spirit this December

Zharity is run entirely on the generosity of people like you. We are 100% volunteer led and run, and funded by donations and grants. With that in mind:

If you’d like to learn more about how you can volunteer your time with us, sign up for our January Coffee Talk

If you’re moved to donate financially, you can do so here, and know that your money is going directly back into our work.

If your company uses Benevity, you can even increase your impact by registering your volunteer hours or donating directly through Benevity. Every little bit helps!

Updates and Thank Yous

Community Kit Making

On 13 November 2025, 25 Zharity volunteers came together to prepare 1000 hygiene kits for Schweizer Tafel and Pfarrer Sieber. Schweizer Tafel will distribute these kits via their food banks across Switzerland and Pfarrer Sieber will use the kits for their new initiative - offering a weekly safe space for homeless and vulnerable women.

Special thanks to Alessia and Lisa for organizing, Lea for coordinating procurement of the items, Lea and Julie for driving, our President, to Rebecca, for her never-ending help and support and our Treasurer, Hannah, for her financial management, to all the volunteers that were able to attend and to St Anton’s Forum for the use of the room.

Essen Für Alle Distribution

On Saturday, November 22nd, 7 Zharity members Essen für Alle. Following the high demand for shampoo at September’s distribution, we chose to offer pads and shampoo again this quarter.

We distributed over 1560 bottles of shampoo at the Essen für Alle warehouse in Manegg, and another 420 will go to smaller local distributions. We distributed 1200 packs of pads. Amazing! A massive thank you for all the volunteers that helped to distribute the items, to Essen for Alle for having us and to all our sponsors and donors that make these distributions possible!

Winter Kit Assembly & Gift Wrapping Session

On November 30th, Zharity Verein members gathered for a wonderful session filled with purpose, teamwork, and a whole lot of heart. Together, we assembled winter kits for Pfarrer Sieber and wrapped children’s winter items and toys for the Züri Schenkt initiative.

Each of the 150 winter kits included warm socks, lip balm, tissues, protein bars, and a small gift, providing simple but essential comfort to Zürich’s homeless community during the cold months ahead.

For Züri Schenkt, we prepared children’s packets containing a toy, non-slip socks, hats, gloves, and scarves — items that will help keep kids warm and bring joy to refugee families this holiday season.

A huge thank-you to the Zharity Verein members who joined us for this meaningful afternoon of service. Your time, care, and dedication made the session both productive and uplifting. We’re grateful for your continued commitment to making a difference in our community!

Thank you Zimmer Biomet!

Thanks to the team at Zimmer Biomet, children who might not otherwise have received gifts were surprised with thoughtfully wrapped toys, spreading happiness and holiday magic.

In addition to the gifts, the team donated more than 30 wrapped winter accessories to the Züri Schenkt program, which supports refugees in the Zürich area. Beyond collecting and wrapping these items, Zimmer Biomet staff personally delivered them to our Community Partners, ensuring the gifts reached those who needed them most.

Thank you to Ximena and to the entire Zimmer Biomet team! To read more about how this team came together together for this project, read our latest blog post.