"Now it doesn't work without you anymore": Neighborhood Aid Erding supports more and more citizens

Created: 12/28/2022, 08:00

By: Gabi Zierz

The Korbinian-Aigner-Gymnasium Erding donated 1000 euros to the charity from the proceeds of the Christmas bazaar.

NBH chairwoman Petra Bauernfeind (centre) was very happy about this.

The check was handed over (from left) by the student representatives Kilian Herz, Laura Mattern and Amy Grindau as well as senior school representative Konrad Thees.

There were also gift boxes that the classes had filled.

© school

The Tafel Erding has been overrun for months.

400 customers alone regularly pick up groceries from her.

That's just one of the tasks of the neighborhood help Erding.

Erding – From one crisis to the next: The social clubs and associations particularly reflect challenging developments in society.

The rush of people at the Tafel Erding has developed almost explosively.

The work of the Neighborhood Aid (NBH) 2022 was primarily shaped by the effects of the war in Ukraine.

At the beginning of the year, around 140 households were still picking up groceries from the Tafel rooms at the train station every week, but a month after the outbreak of war it was already 170. Up to 400 collectors are now regular customers of the Tafel, explains NBH Chairwoman Petra Bauernfeind.

Almost half of them come from the Ukraine, but not only their group is constantly growing: "More and more people from Germany and other countries are also struggling to go to the table."

In order to be able to cope with this rush without stopping admission, the food bank had to form two customer groups: one Ukrainian and one with customers from all other nations.

Each group can now take turns picking up groceries every two weeks.

"Otherwise the food would not have been enough," says Bauernfeind.

In addition, the volunteers came under more and more pressure.

"People had to be dispatched in piecework, long-standing customers suddenly stayed away." This was equally frustrating for the people in front of and behind the counters.

Inflation is now providing a further boost.

A customer from Klettham explained simply: “I was able to live off the hard savings for a few months and not have to go to the Tafel.

Now it can't be done without you anymore.” Nevertheless, the team still tries to see the individual person who stands in front of the volunteers with all their worries and needs.

Because the help of the Tafel goes far beyond the distribution of food.

Bauernfeind explains: “An employee accompanied a woman with several impairments to the doctor in Munich several times, and a colleague brought a pensioner to basic social security with several meetings.

Before that, almost his entire small pension had been spent on the rent.” All of this could only be managed as a team effort.

Many of the volunteers work every week, some even for several days.

The helpers are also on hand for special campaigns.

This year, for example, this included support for refugee aid in collecting donations in kind for the Ukraine, the day of encounter in neighborhood aid or the distribution of gifts from the city's Wish Star campaign in the Frauenkircherl.

"But the citizens of the district are just as loyal," says Bauernfeind gratefully.

Whether as individual donors, associations, parishes, schools, kindergartens, food sharing, companies or neighboring food banks: with great commitment, many people help to fill the food store again and again.

However, food donations from supermarkets, bakeries and shops still form the basis.

The radius of the pick-up team, which is on the road for three days, is getting bigger and bigger.

The NBH office team has the board's backs free.

The three women manage the neighborly help almost alone.

And this is diverse.

Not only the dwarf groups, the group "Seniors help seniors" or the leisure clubs for people with and without disabilities can take place again without restrictions after the Corona break.

Even after more than 40 years, the mission of the association should not be lost.

“To help, like you do in a good neighborhood,” emphasizes Bauernfeind: “Or organize the urgently needed fridge and television for three residents in a retirement home and deliver it free to the lady with the femoral neck fracture on the day she returns from rehab Filling the fridge or delivering a death message: Being there for others was, is and will always be what neighborly help is all about.”

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Light in the heart: The readers' aid organization of the Erdinger/Dorfener Anzeiger supports people in need through no fault of their own in the district and the work of the neighborhood help Erding.

Donations can be made to the account (number 17 111) at Sparkasse Erding.

Account holder: Zeitungsverlag Oberbayern.

IBAN: DE54 7005 1995 0000 0171 11.