This summer, the “Soldiers with a Heart” fundraising campaign initiated by militia corporal John Patrick Platzer is already entering its third round. We spoke to him.
Mr. Platzer, the “Soldiers with a heart” charity campaign took place for the second time this spring. How did the idea come about in the first place? My best friend works at the SOS Children’s Village in Moosburg and I was very lucky to be able to accompany her to the summer parties from time to time. I used these opportunities to find out more about what goes on at the SOS Children’s Village. What’s more, as a newsreader at a radio station, I have to deal with bad news every day, but my day-to-day job has allowed me to develop a certain distance to this news. It was very different in the Children’s Village, where the information and stories really touched me. The desire to help was there very quickly, so I asked the caregivers what else they could use in addition to the important factor of time …
… and the campaign got off the ground?
Exactly. It quickly became clear that buying sledges and other winter sports equipment would be a great help to the residents of the children’s village. So I wrote to my comrades from various companies and asked them if they would like to collect some money for the SOS Children’s Village in Moosburg. That’s how the “Soldiers with a heart” initiative came about very quickly. As a small memento of the campaign, every donor received a patch that I designed myself.
How much money was raised?
We succeeded in collecting 1,600 euros. Together with a lot of positive feedback, the question quickly arose as to whether we should start such a campaign again. So it didn’t take long for us to start collecting money for summer sports equipment. I designed another patch and we were able to spend around 1,400 euros on inline skates, skateboards and lots of other nice things.
What role did the coronavirus crisis play in your second collection campaign?
It quickly became obvious to me what a multiple burden the caregivers were suddenly exposed to. Due to the school closures, an educational mandate was added to the educational mandate. I then had medals made for the supervisors in recognition of this great achievement and to make them happy.
Is another campaign planned?
The project is now so big that a restaurant, the Burger Boutique in Klagenfurt and Villach, asked me if they could support the campaign. Since then, the Burger Boutique has been selling the “Soldiers with a heart burger”. One euro from every burger sold goes into the donation pot. We would like to use the money raised to buy school bags for the children in the SOS Children’s Village, which we will hand over to them at the end of August. The campaign runs until August 16. As with the other products, quality is very important to us here too, so that the bags really do last a long time and can be passed on.
Was it clear to you from the start that it would remain an action that would take place among your comrades? Or are there plans to expand the whole thing?
I am sure that I could expand it because I have already received a few inquiries from companies. On the one hand, this is of course very pleasing, but on the other hand I would also like the campaign to enhance the reputation of the Armed Forces. Of course, the well-being and happiness of the children is the top priority. I am a militia soldier, was first in the Pioneers on disaster and assistance missions, and I simply think it is very important that the Armed Forces exist in their current form. With this campaign, I want to show that we militia soldiers are also committed to helping other people in our free time. We not only protect Austria, but also help when we are not on duty. The cooperation with the Burger Boutique was a good fit because the burger really does bear the name of the campaign and this makes the proximity to the Austrian Armed Forces clear.
“I want the campaign to also serve the reputation of the Armed Forces.”
How was the willingness to donate among the comrades? Were many explanations necessary?
Not at all. And the matter is quickly explained. Many of my comrades were once in residential care themselves or lost their parents at an early age. I think that these background stories have fueled the willingness to donate even more. Many small amounts have been raised in this way.
You are not only a collector of military insignia, but also a designer. How did this passion come about?
During an assistantship in Burgenland, I was able to put my interest in graphics and design into practice for the first time. We were a really cool group back then, in which everyone got on well, and we had the idea of designing and producing a badge to commemorate this time. I had just learned Photoshop at the time and was therefore very actively involved. But it only really took off during the refugee crisis in 2015. The patches I designed back then can even be seen today in the Weissenböck Military Museum in Upper Austria. I believe that patches like the “Sumus Ubique” series(note: Latin for “We are everywhere”), which I started in 2015, strengthen the feeling of togetherness. What’s more, badges are nice memories that you can also touch.
Here to see our other heroes and heroines.
