At least 350,000 Danes live with anxiety in their daily lives – and they are spread across all age groups. But once you leave the labor market, it’s easy to end up facing the problem alone – especially as many in your previous network disappear because it was related to your work. Therefore, there is a great need for an effort to help the elderly who suffer from anxiety.

This is what Jan Michael Hansen, responsible for development and fundraising at the Anxiety Association, says, who along with nine other charitable organizations has received a donation of 100,000 kroner each from 'Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit og Kjeld', which owns Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S.

– With the money we receive from 'Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit og Kjeld', we can tackle a task that has been neglected today.

– There is a very great need for us to make a special effort for the elderly who suffer from anxiety. They often face the problem completely alone, while many other instances step in when it is found that children, young people, or others are plagued by anxiety. These people live very isolated lives and often hide away.

WORKING TOGETHER WITH PSYCHOLOGISTS, VOLUNTEERS, HEALTH CENTERS, AND OTHER ASSOCIATIONS

– Therefore, we are working together with, among others, gerontopsychologists, who are truly experts on how we can help the elderly with anxiety, to create activities that really engage elderly people with anxiety – and encourage them to step out of their comfort zones and find a community with other elderly people who may also suffer from anxiety.

– It’s about creating companionship in a safe group for people with special needs. Game nights, communal dining, themed evenings, lectures, entertainment, and nature activities.

– And it’s about attracting volunteers and together with the elderly creating self-help groups, where elderly people find community – and help each other when anxiety makes everyday life difficult.

– We do this together with many other associations that, like us, also have premises in various locations across the country. The Depression Association and the OCD Association, volunteer centers, and health centers, which also work to create better conditions for people who are struggling, says Jan Michael Hansen from the Anxiety Association.

”HOLIDAY WITH A GOOD HEART” – THE PROFITS BENEFIT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, NOT CAPITAL FUNDS

It is unique in the Danish tourism industry that the vast majority of the profits from Sol og Strand's rental of summer houses and holiday homes over a few years are converted into support for charitable and local causes. Instead of ending up in foreign capital funds and money tanks.

The chairman of the fund's board, Jens Stadum, is pleased that both homeowners, holiday guests, and employees have contributed input to the process – and that the fund can now distribute one million kroner to charitable purposes for the second year in a row:

– We can see from the applications – and from the feedback we receive from last year's recipients of donations from ”Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit and Kjeld” – that the money makes an important difference for many of the people who are struggling and facing challenges. And this applies both in Denmark and outside Danish borders. There is a real need for money, says the chairman.

– We can say with a clear conscience that you contribute to doing something good for others when you take a holiday through Sol og Strand. This is what we call ”Holiday with a good heart,” says Jens Stadum.

– We have already decided that we will open for applications for the next distribution pool after the summer of 2022, so that next year in December we can also allocate 1 million kroner to good causes. Our expectation is that from 2023 we can distribute even larger amounts from the fund. Just like this year, the plan going forward is to gather input from homeowners, holiday guests, and employees at Sol og Strand when we open for applications for the next distributions, says Jens Stadum.

FOUNDERS OF THE FOUNDATION: SOL OG STRAND MUST REMAIN DANISH – AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

It is the founders of Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S, Margit and Kjeld Andersen, who established the "Fonden Sol og Strand ved Margit og Kjeld".

The couple had a dual wish – namely to keep Sol og Strand in Danish hands, but also to ensure that the company's profits primarily go to charitable and humanitarian purposes.

– We have received the money we need. And we can see that others can greatly benefit from it if we channel the profits further to humanitarian and charitable purposes. We are confirmed in this when we see the long line of qualified applications that have come to the foundation again this year, says Kjeld Andersen, who, together with his wife Margit Andersen, established Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental 42 years ago.

Margit Andersen adds:

– We are very pleased to see the quality of the work we donate money to. It is clear that the applications come from organizations that are passionate about making a difference. And that is what matters to us, says Margit Andersen.

On fondensologstrand.dk, it is possible to read more about the projects that have received donations from "Fonden Sol og Strand by Margit and Kjeld".

FURTHER COMMENTS:

Jan Michael Hansen,
responsible for development and fundraising at the Anxiety Association,
tel. 26 30 50 20

Jens Stadum,
chairman of the board of "Fonden Sol og Strand ved Margit og Kjeld",
tel. 40 85 67 33

Kristian Andersen,
PR and press manager at Sol og Strand Holiday Home Rental A/S,
tel. 40 29 38 37