The Holzkirchner Tafel holds the position despite Corona.
Every Saturday the helpers distribute groceries, sometimes masks, to those in need.
And they are often amazed at how willing people are to donate and help in times of crisis.
Holzkirchen
- Suddenly there are 100 kilos of potatoes.
Or 500 eggs.
Or a pallet of pasta, bought fresh from the discounter.
“Often we don't even know who's going to do that,” says Gerhard Berberich, secretary at the Holzkirchner Tafel.
The corona crisis with its oppressions has apparently opened many hearts and encouraged the willingness to help people who were less fortunate in life.
The Holzkirchner Tafel, which supplies the needy with food, benefits from this.
“We were closed for a short time in March 2020,” reports Berberich.
"But since then there has not been a deadline."
Not every blackboard in the country was able to maintain operations during the pandemic and lockdowns.
"We made it because we received strong support from citizens and companies from the region," emphasizes Berberich.
The Oberhachingen company Schilder Schlemmer last donated 1,500 FFP2 masks.
A first batch, donated by the food association and the district office, had already been given out to those collecting the goods.
Whether money or donations in kind, aid has grown significantly during the pandemic.
"We were never short of goods, although the supermarkets were sometimes so overrun that they couldn't put anything back for us," reports the secretary.
Around 150 needy people are cared for every Saturday
Every Saturday 30 to 40 people come to the table.
For a good two years now, food has been distributed in the fresh kitchen at the loading yard.
“There are up to 150 people in the families behind the collectors,” says Berberich.
"In times of crisis, unfortunately, more people fall through the cracks." It was noticeable that a number of new faces appeared while old customers stayed away.
“Older people in particular don't really dare to leave the house,” Berberich suspects.
A good two thirds of Tafel customers live in Holzkirchen, many of them come from Otterfing, some also from Valley and Warngau.
“Unfortunately, no more than 20 percent of people who are entitled to use our offer,” says Berberich.
Nobody has to be afraid of infection: “We have strict hygiene rules.” The Tafelverband supplied three air purifiers.
Plexiglass panels provide a screen when bread is distributed, as well as when the numbers are assigned, which determine the order in which they are distributed.
Tafel could serve even more people in need
The volunteers themselves are not frightened.
Around 50 active people form teams of ten to twelve people every Saturday.
“Our hygiene concept provides for permanent teams,” explains Berberich.
Although many of the helpers are retirees and therefore belong to the corona risk group, almost all of them stuck to the bar.
"In some cases we even had to brake." There were also many offers of new helpers.
“So many that we couldn't all divide them up,” says Berberich, who now hopes that more people in need can be helped.
"We have goods, we have staff, and we handle the issue very discreetly."
