Special honour: 700th volunteer card awarded

Bocholt - 20 people have now been honoured with the volunteer card for their special voluntary work. More than 705 cards have now been awarded to people who are particularly committed to their fellow human beings.

This time, the volunteer cards were not awarded at the volunteer agency in Langenbergstraße, but at the premises of the Bocholt food bank in Köcherstraße. And not without reason: half of the new awards went to men and women who are committed to the food bank in Bocholt. Helmut Reygers from the board of the Bocholter Tafel association welcomed those present and spoke about the association's work and current challenges.

Monika Hebing was among the members of the Tafel association who were honoured with the volunteer card. She received two volunteer cards: one for her wallet and one "behind glass", as Rainer Howestädt from the Bocholt volunteer agency explained. Hebing received the 700th volunteer card that has been awarded in Bocholt since the award was introduced.

Max Benda, Head of the Social Affairs Department of the City of Bocholt, finally pinned a badge of honour on the lapel of the volunteers - to match the cheque card. "What you all do for Bocholt's urban society can hardly be measured. Life without voluntary work would be unimaginable," said Bocholt's deputy mayor Elisabeth Kroesen, who presented the cards on behalf of the city of Bocholt. Being honoured with an honorary card is just a small acknowledgement of all the work that has been done.

An honorary card was awarded to:

• Grietje Greff, Caritas Association Bocholt
• Andrea Thesing, Caritas Association Bocholt
• Maria Wenning, Caritas Association Bocholt
• Georg Fahrland, RC Bocholt e.V.
• Detlef Jäger, Bocholter Tafel e.V.
• Agnes Jäger, Bocholter Tafel e.V.
• Elke Habers, Bocholter Tafel e.V.
• Thomas Mertens, Bocholter Tafel e.V.
• Heike Mertens, Bocholter Tafel e.V.
• Sylvia Rüth, , Bocholter Tafel e.V.
• Elisabeth Kronenberg, Bocholter Tafel e.V.
• Monika Hebing, Bocholter Tafel e.V.
• Marie-France Wülfing, Bocholter Tafel e.V.
• Mathilde Amshoff, Bocholter Tafel e.V.
• Elisabeth Kaes, DRK local organisation Isselburg
• Alexandra Ditters, Animal Welfare Association Bocholt and Surroundings e.V.
• Gudrun Zieren, Association Leben im Alter e.V.
• Bernd Fahrland, Leben im Alter e.V. association
• Heiner Schmeing, Verein Leben im Alter e.V.

About the volunteer card

Since its introduction, the volunteer card has already been awarded to more than 705 people in Bocholt. It was introduced by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and many cities, districts and municipalities as a sign of appreciation for voluntary work. With it, organisations can take advantage of numerous benefits. Further information can be found on the website www.bocholt.de/ehrenamt.