Another board closure because of the pandemic?

"This is not an option for me"

Created: 12/24/2021, 12:02 PM

From: Franziska Seliger

They set up two stands with Christmas delicacies for their customers: The employees of the Penzberger Tafel with Mayor Stefan Korpan (4th from right), who paid "the greatest thanks and respect" to the great commitment of the helpers.

© Franziska Seliger

The corona pandemic has made the operation of the Penzberger Tafel much more difficult.

Much has changed in almost two years of the pandemic.

However, the commitment of the volunteers is still great.

One day before Christmas Eve, they set a Christmas table for their customers again.

Penzberg - Satisfied, Ursula Floßmann points to the display of the two stands that she and the other volunteers had set up on the square in front of the Christ the King Church on Thursday, the day before Christmas Eve. On top of it: lots of special features for Christmas. For example little Santa Claus bags filled with sweets and coffee. Bags full of home-baked cookies, cuddly toys for the children or vouchers worth 25 euros for a toy store and a drugstore. In addition, two large cooling boxes with different types of meat for the Christmas roast. All these goods were donated by various associations, companies, schools, kindergartens and other institutions in Penzberg and the surrounding area, says Floßmann. But many private donors have also come by in the past few days,to "generously" donate money or food parcels. "We have people who come to us from as far as Munich," reports Floßmann.

A girl put candy from her Advent calendar aside for the blackboard

Christine Geiger, like Floßmann part of the management team at Penzberger Tafel, particularly remembers a little girl who, during the run-up to Christmas, put little things such as candy or toys from her own Advent calendar aside in order to donate them to the Tafel.

This year, says Floßmann, people's willingness to donate has "become even greater" than last year.

"It's overwhelming."

125 people currently have a blackboard ID - and the trend is rising slightly

Currently, according to Geiger, 125 people in Penzberg and the surrounding area have a blackboard ID that entitles them to buy groceries here once a week.

The trend is "slightly increasing", says Floßmann.

She expects that the number of Tafel customers will continue to grow in 2022.

But whether this is due to the pandemic, because more people have lost their jobs?

“That's hard to say,” says Floßmann.

In the two years of the pandemic, there has only been a two-week closure so far

There are currently 30 volunteers, says Geiger. That is much less than before the pandemic. One of the reasons for this is that, due to the hygiene requirements, significantly fewer helpers can be used than before. For example, if a helper worked for two hours on the issue before the pandemic, he now also has to sort goods and clean the room after the issue. The working hours for the helpers have increased significantly. But older people in particular could no longer do this. But the smaller Tafel team is all the more committed. Geiger tells of a young woman who takes extra time off from work in a bank every Thursday to help with the table. Because help is also provided in times of pandemics, emphasizes Geiger.Since the outbreak of the corona virus, the Penzberger Tafel has only closed once for two weeks. During this time, a hygiene concept was put in place and further help was provided. And that will also be the case next year - no matter which virus variant comes. "We will continue to do it like this," emphasizes Floßmann. 3G is currently valid, all helpers are boosted and would test themselves before their service. "Somehow it will continue," assures Geiger. Close the board again because of the pandemic? "This is not an option for me at all."all helpers are boosted and would test themselves before their service. "Somehow it will continue," assures Geiger. Close the board again because of the pandemic? "This is not an option for me at all."all helpers are boosted and would test themselves before their service. "Somehow it will continue," assures Geiger. Close the board again because of the pandemic? "This is not an option for me at all."