The pre-Christmas season also marks the return of the season of giving. Of course, we all love finding beautiful gifts under the Christmas tree, but making others happy is just as wonderful. Unfortunately, not everyone has the means to fulfill their Christmas wishes. To ensure that those in need don’t go empty-handed and can enjoy Christmas Eve just as much, there are the Wish Trees in Munich. With these trees and your generous help, dreams can still come true.
Here’s how the campaign works
This year marks the seventh time the Malteser’s Wish Tree campaign is taking place. In the run-up to the event, they collected 5,000 gift wishes from people in need, including seniors and children. You’ll find the Wish Trees at various locations in and around Munich, and you can participate from Saturday, November 14, through Wednesday, December 9. Numerous paper stars hang from each tree, with wishes written on them. These wishes vary widely, ranging from toys to cosmetics to homemade treats. You can choose something that fits your budget.
Once you’ve chosen your star, pick out the corresponding gift and wrap it nicely. If you’d like, you can also include a card with a few personal words. Then drop off the gift by December 9 at the latest at the location where you picked the star from the tree. That’s it! The Malteser will take care of the rest and ensure that the donations reach the right people.
Where to find the Wish Trees
The Malteser’s fundraising campaign is carried out in collaboration with the Munich City Libraries. They can be found at a total of 15 locations throughout the city, including the libraries in Sendling, Isarvorstadt, and Gasteig HP8. Another 11 trees are located in the surrounding areas in Krailing, Planegg, Taufkirchen, Aschheim, and Unterhaching, as well as at the airport and the Munich Trade Fair. You can find the complete list of Wish Tree locations at the bottom of this page.
In addition to the Malteser, there are other organizations setting up Wish Trees. For example, you’ll also find a tree at Macherei, which is donating to the animal shelter this year. Outside of Munich, there are similar campaigns in Fürstenfeldbruck, Gröbenzell, and at the Bavaria Film Studios. In addition, there’s the KulturWunschBaum (Culture Wish Tree) by KulturRaum München, where you can give the gift of experiences instead of material gifts. This is available both digitally and at the Schwabing Christmas Market at Münchner Freiheit.
📍 Locations: Munich public libraries and locations in the surrounding area
📅 Dates: From Saturday, November 14, through Wednesday, December 19
