A little escape from everyday life

Created: 12/14/2022, 8:30 am

By: Susanne Greiner

Large crowds at the Advent market in the Caritas senior center.

Meike Vorwold (front right) initiated the market and runs it herself – on a voluntary basis © Greiner

District – If you live in an old people's home, you can't 'quickly get something'.

In order to buy the blanket for your own room, a book or even a gift, someone has to be sent or at least someone to accompany you.

It is precisely this self-determined action that residents of senior citizens' facilities lack.

Meike Vorwold wants to give them at least a bit of self-determination: with her mobile gift market – which is currently running through various institutions in the district as a mobile Advent gift market.

It's snowing.

At the second Advent gift market that Vorwold organized in the Caritas senior citizens' center Heilig-Geist-Spital, the first, still wet flakes tumbled from the sky.

Inside, Christmas carols are blaring from the CD player, a nurse with a reindeer antler headband is placing a cookie plate next to the thermos full of punch.

Next to it, red and gold glitter on a long table: Christmas cards, ornaments for the fir tree and table as well as for people, as well as jackets, hats and scarves await the residents of the senior citizens' center.

Whereby 'wait' is expressed incorrectly: although Vorwold actually doesn't want to start until 3 p.m., the first guests are already there while Vorwold is still setting up.

A woman chooses a single, small straw star.

Another woman is already going back to her room, holding a music box in her hands and listening to it enraptured.

"Actually, she wanted them for her music box collection," says Vorwold later.

"But one of the roommates fell in love with the watch so much that she simply gave it to her." Many of the market guests are also looking for gifts for their relatives.

Like the 88-year-old, for example, who takes a wooden toy for Emily, her fifth great-granddaughter.

The question “How much does it cost?” or “Where is the cash register?” and Vorwold's answers – “Nothing”, “We don't have a cash register” – arouse amazement.

"Where is there something like that, it's an April Fool's joke," says a woman.

"Gosh!" another.

Some just 'loaf around' and don't take anything with them.

And some people are embarrassed to take something with them.

You don't want to seem needy.

Choose yourself

Vorwold used to work in a senior citizens' facility, knows what the residents want and what they lack: "For example, being able to choose things actively and independently." She wanted to volunteer.

And since Vorwold loves flea markets - "I also like the idea of ​​sustainability" - she starts her mobile gift market.

Vorwold calls for donations on Facebook.

“I was hoping that something would come of it.

I was really happy that there were so many.” She is also supported by the children of the “Wurzberg Oase” in Reichling, who keep making small things for the gift market – today they are painted lucky stones.

In the meantime, Vorwold is setting up her table in five institutions in the district: in Landsberg still in the Pichlmayr senior center and in that of the AWO, as well as the senior citizens' home in Kaufering and Theresienbad in Greifenberg.

At the moment she has enough supplies to stock the planned Advent markets.

But in the spring she looks forward to something new again.

What is not possible: Candles, they are not allowed in retirement homes.

Vorwold does not accept food or cosmetics either, someone may have allergies.

What is in demand: pads and pens.

For example, to be able to take notes on the phone.

Clothes that are in good condition are great: "You wouldn't believe how many senior citizens don't have a warm jacket, for example." Vorwold also likes to take jewelry with him.

You can see why by looking at a woman who immediately put on her new earrings.

A meeting place

The head of nursing at the Heilig-Geist-Spital, Christian Specht, is enthusiastic about Vorwold's market: "People are really happy, they meet here, sometimes relatives come too.

And everyone is still talking about how nice it was for a long time afterwards.” Some would also lay out Vorwold's flyer to call for donations.

"This market is something that we could not handle ourselves in this form."

One resident contributes two bed sheets, still wrapped.

Looking across the table, an amulet with an angel on it catches his eye: "I'm giving this to my ex-wife." Others give themselves a gift. A woman wraps a scarf around herself, takes a mirror, looks at herself, and smiles.

"You always see people getting taller," says Vorwold.

"Because they treat themselves, see how beautiful they are."

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My space

Vorwold organizes the markets to give people variety, "a break from everyday life".

The fact that the flea market principle is also sustainable - "everything stays in flux" - is an added factor.

The initiator travels around four hours per store.

She collects and sorts the donations, drives to the homes, sets up, accompanies the market, dismantles, drives home.

"It's obviously a hassle," she says.

"But that's okay."

Today she has help from Doris Ott, who reported via Facebook.

“Someone from my village is coming next week.

But of course, I can always use help,” says Vorwold.

Because she plans to hold the markets every 14 days throughout the year in different facilities in the future.

What does she take with her?

“I am learning humility here.

Because I see how happy people are about little things.” But the greatest reward for her is the joy of the recipient – ​​it also makes her eyes shine.