City of Bocholt awards volunteer cards to committed citizens

The city of Bocholt has honoured numerous committed citizens for their voluntary work in the clubhouse of VfL 45 Bocholt. During a ceremony, Deputy Mayor Gudrun Koppers and Head of Division Christian Tewiele presented the nationwide volunteer and anniversary cards. The award is a sign of special recognition for people who work for the local community without pay.

The North Rhine-Westphalia Volunteer Card is a special form of appreciation for people who invest a lot of time in charitable activities. The prerequisite for receiving this honour is a voluntary commitment of at least four hours per week or 200 hours per year. Holders of the card benefit from discounts with numerous public and private partners throughout the country.

The award ceremony took place on the premises of VfL 45 Bocholt. After welcoming the guests, Deputy Mayor Gudrun Koppers and Christian Tewiele, Head of the Department for Pensions, Senior Citizens, Care and Volunteering, handed out the cards to those present. The city administration was particularly pleased that many volunteers from the host sports club were also honoured. Following the official part of the event, the participants had the opportunity to socialise in a relaxed atmosphere over refreshments.

A total of 42 people received the regular volunteer card for the first time. The recipients are active in very different areas of society and are involved, for example, in the Omega hospice association, various Bocholt sports clubs, the LaPaBo carnival society, the local food bank and other local organisations: Thomas Strate (Nähgruppe Westmünsterland e.V.), Elisabeth Tuinte, Derk Rutgers, Gabriele Naudit (all Tafel Isselburg), Werner Brand, Johannes van Reeken, Verena Winter (all Bürgerinitiative Dinxperwick e.V.), Christel Breuer (Freiwillige Initiative Dinxperwick e.V.) and Christel Breuer (Freiwillige Initiative Dinxperwick e.V.).), Christel Breuer (Bocholt Volunteer Agency), Philipp Eiting, Luca Leon Coenen, Leo Kortenhorn, Jochen Bradatsch, Manfred Roters, Nina Bösing, Kermena Nashed, Afraem Nashed, Björn Effing, Daniel Buckermann, Wilhelm van Dielen, Sandra Tawadros, Tryphena Tawadros (all VfL 45 Bocholt), Frank Rinke, Andreas Riedel (both Lachparade Bokel Ost 1978 e.V.), Muhammed Abdullah Zor (Integrations- und Bildungsstätte Bocholt e.V.), Luzia Feldhaar, Yvonn Gale (both Omega e.V.), Klaus Sanders, Astrid Lehmhaus-Deing (both Bocholter Bürgergenossenschaft eG), Susanne Tepaße, Nicola Schulz, Helga Waterkamp, Rita Strotmann (all Bocholter Tafel e.V.), Monika Kotowska (1. FC Bocholt), Martina Radtkowski (Katholische Pfarrgemeinde St. Josef), Jonas Hagedorn (SC TuB Mussum), Anne Demming (Spielmannszug Barlo e.V.), Akan Üstüngör, Annegret Wiesmann-Kruse (TuB Bocholt), Valentin Terhart (Shantychor Freibeuter), Dr Marie-Luise Klein (Leben-im-Alter e.V.), Rita Möllers (Katholische Parrei Liebfrauen).

In addition, seven people were presented with an anniversary honour card. This form of recognition requires at least 25 years of voluntary commitment and is valid for life: Rudolf Souilljee, Martin Frenk (both Nabu Kreisverband Borken e.V.), Ingrid Groth (municipal library, Flötissimo), Gabriele Borgers, Georg Borgers (both Liebfrauen Catholic parish), Rita Lütfring-Kathage (St. Georg parish), Horst Radomski (Technisches Hilfswerk).