Residents reap accolades for exceptional dedication
Fresh Take:
The 2024 "HeimatHelden" awards received a staggering 61 applications, leaving Annette Neth, deputy spokeswoman of Sparkasse Neuss, thrilled. "We started with a meager 30 applications at our inaugural event," she said, "It's amazing to see this award gaining traction." Sparkasse Neuss takes pride in recognizing the voluntary efforts of the community.
Marcus Longerich, a board member, shared the sentiment: "All these fantastic individuals and organizations are making a significant impact on society." With so many passionate contenders, it wasn't an easy task to choose the winners. The jury evaluated aspects like the length of commitment and societal impact. A "Top 10" of Neuss, Dormagen, Grevenbroich, and Jüchen volunteers were chosen, each receiving a grant of 250 euros.
The Youth Red Cross Neuss, Young Citizens' Foundation Neuss, Bücherstube Knechtsteden, Mechthild Swertz, and others made the top 10, but missed out on the top three spots. Despite not winning the highest honors, they were elated with the recognition.
The nail-biting moments began as the top three were announced. "The voting was a close battle," revealed Annette Neth, "First place scored a whopping 986 points, second place managed 856 points, and third place nabbed 849 points. It was an exciting finish." The DLRG local group Dormagen was crowned the first place winner, taking home a grand prize of 5,000 euros. The association "Grevenbroich packs in" clinched the second spot with a commitment to aiding the homeless and needy, bagging a 3,000 euros prize. The jury awarded the Handwerksdienst of the Netzwerk 55+ Neuss Mitte for their dedication to assisting the elderly and socially disadvantaged, earning the third place and a prize of 2,000 euros.
Herbert Flory, the Handwerksdienst leader, accepted the award with three fellow volunteers. The Handwerksdienst is a group of seven dedicated individuals who handle various tasks for the elderly or socially disadvantaged, from light bulb changes to minor repairs. "We operate a telephone service and are on call as needed," says Herbert Flory, "Usually, we are active two to three times a week." Along with therequired tasks, there are frequent coffee chats, emphasizing the importance of human connection.
The Handwerksdienst plans to donate their prize money of 2,000 euros to the Tierheim Bettikum. The team previously agreed on this decision, as they don't require vehicles or special equipment to carry out their work. "We have our tools at home, and the screwdriver is the most frequently used one," laughed the volunteer craftsmen.
The Handwerksdienst is still on the lookout for additional members, particularly electricians and IT experts. Interested individuals are welcome to join their team at the neighborhood café, Friedrichstraße 42, every last Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am.
Additional research may be needed to gather more information about other 2024 HeimatHelden winners and their specific commitments, as some search results were inconclusive.
The youth-led organizations such as the Youth Red Cross Neuss, Young Citizens' Foundation Neuss, and Bücherstube Knechtsteden, among others, showed significant impact in the health-and-wellness sector through their voluntary efforts, despite not securing the top three positions in the HeimatHelden awards. Meanwhile, the Handwerksdienst, a group recognized for their science-based approach in assisting the elderly and socially disadvantaged, won the third place in the awards, planning to use their prize money for supporting another cause in the health-and-wellness field.
