February 29, 2024—a day to celebrate volunteerism!

What happened on February 29, 2024?

As a result, all employees had the opportunity to get involved with social organizations and actively support them. As a further sign of social commitment, each of the organizations visited will receive a donation of 250€! Here are more highlights from Normec Hybeta’s Volunteer Day!

Dieter Reifig supported the Familienbündnis Altenberge e.V. Here’s a report:
We got started at 8:30 a.m. today. Swapped my validator case for a toolbox. Then walked with a handcart to the “Haus für alle.” Greeted at the “Haus für alle,” naturally in “work clothes.”
A lamp was missing in a small meeting room. I can drill through thick boards, after all. Then it was time for breakfast. There was no roll on the plate in front of me. But I ended up eating half of one anyway—peer pressure, I guess. The first lamp is up. There’s also a missing light above a small desk in the same room. Under observation. This light works, too. There was still something to do in the office—a few light bulbs. As you can see in the two pictures, this is a very old house, partly with real stucco ceilings.
Also in the office, the floor—that cheap laminate—has a hole in it; it really doesn’t look good. The person sitting at the desk seems very nervous. First signs of weakness—I already have to hold onto the table leg. Done. The girls are having fun.
After that, we went down to the basement. Two shelves were missing. I only replaced one. The bottom one would have been too low (risk of hitting your head). I also removed the supports and filled in the drill holes.
That’s it. By the way,the Altenberge Family Alliance https://www.familienbuendnis-altenberge.de/ is doing a great job there. I saw that for myself today. People are coming and going nonstop. Right at 9:00 a.m. when I arrived, for example, the first asylum seeker showed up—he could barely speak a word of German and just unpacked his backpack. A stack of papers appeared (all loose sheets), and he asked for help. It went something like that several times throughout the day. And working with refugees is just one part of what the Family Alliance does. One thing is certain: without the many volunteers all over Germany, this country would fall apart. It’s great that there are so many of them. I also assume this won’t be my last visit there. There’s still more to do, and they have even more facilities.

Antje Maahs spent the day at the day care center of the St. Josef nursing home in Albersloh, where she helped the staff care for the residents and spent time with them.

Benjamin Meerkötter and Daniel Triphaus were at the St. Clemens Social Services center in Hiltrup. Their first stop was the bread distribution for those in need. Rolls, loaves of bread, baguettes, and cakes had to be portioned out and then distributed fairly. Afterward, they headed to the clothing closet, where—in addition to tidying up with brooms, dustpans, knives, and sheer muscle power—they first had to sort through the summer clothing that had been donated last winter.

Katharina Mecklenburg was at the Tecklenburger Land Animal Shelter, where she assisted the staff in the cat ward. She helped tidy up and clean the cats’ quarters, fed the cats, played with them a bit, and finally cleaned the shelter’s common areas.