The new solidarity bears from Aids-Hilfe are now available from the Citizens' Office

Colourful, fluffy and with the familiar red ribbon - the Aids-Hilfe Offenbach presented its new solidarity bears to Lord Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke and Head of Social Affairs Martin Wilhelm on 17 December. The rainbow colors of the bears - also known as AIDS bears - show that the association's work is also about solidarity with those suffering from the disease. The bears can now be purchased again from the Citizens' Office.

"The donation will help the association to continue educating people about HIV and Aids, providing advice and supporting people with HIV and their relatives," explains Martin Wilhelm, Head of Social Affairs, who is also responsible for the Citizens' Office. In view of the figures presented by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in November of this year, this continues to be necessary. According to the RKI, the number of infected people in Germany at the end of 2024 was 97,700. The RKI estimates that around 2,300 people were infected with HIV in 2024, around 200 more than in the previous year.

"Although there are now drugs against the HI virus, which means that fewer and fewer people are dying of Aids. But people are still getting infected. This shows how important the work of Aids-Hilfe is," added Lord Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke.

World AIDS Day has been celebrated on 1 December for more than 35 years in order to show solidarity with people with the disease, but also to draw attention to it. It aims to affirm the rights of HIV-positive people and call for people to live together free from prejudice and discrimination. The new generation of solidarity bears are available from the Citizens' Office, the Aids-Hilfe Offenbach office at Frankfurter Straße 43 during opening hours, as well as from various sales partners in the city. They can be purchased for a minimum donation of eight euros. All proceeds go to Aids-Hilfe Offenbach.