A record for a good cause: with proceeds totalling more than 12,000 euros, this year´s traditional charity concert organised by the Albert Berner Foundation, Sparkasse Hohenlohekreis and the Rotary Club Künzelsau-Öhringen raised more money than ever before. For the second time, the entire amount will go towards the renovation and conversion of a building on Rösleinsberg in Künzelsau into an inpatient hospice with eight places.
Major donation: Albert Berner Foundation provides new food van to the food bank Künzelsauer Tafel
Künzelsau, November 29, 2019 – Up to 18 million tons of food are thrown away in Germany annually – despite being perfectly edible. Qualitatively good food that can no longer be sold is being collected in more and more regions by the local food bank (called “Tafel” in Germany) and distributed at low cost to economically disadvantaged people. Nationwide, there are now almost 950 food banks. In 2007 one also opened in Künzelsau. The Albert Berner Foundation has supported its es-tablishment from the very beginning and has now donated a new vehicle to it so that it can expand the range of services offered in the future.
“The idea of a food bank has moved me for many years,” says Ursula Berner, Chairwoman of the Foundation Council of the Albert Berner Foundation. “Economically disadvantaged people have the opportunity to buy food there at low prices. It’s a wonderful idea. We live in an economically strong region. And yet I am always amazed at how many people are dependent on food provided by the Künzelsau Food Bank. Our aim is to help out here without a lot of fanfare.”
A glance at the statistical data shows how high the demand is. Nation-wide, about 1.65 million people currently obtain food from food banks,
an increase of ten percent over 2018. In Künzelsau, more than 400 people regularly visit the food bank next to the cinema. “On average, our customers are 50 years old,” explains Thomas Kallerhoff, Director of the Diakonie welfare organization in Künzelsau, part of the Hohenlohekreis district chapter. “Many of them only receive a small pension or are on social welfare. A customer card enables food to be purchased at our food bank; it is issued after eligibility has been determined. A person is considered in need when his or her income level is 60 percent below the average.” The non-profit initiative is supported by an advisory board, which includes:
- Protestant church district (district Diakonie organization)
- Künzelsau Protestant congregation
- Künzelsau Catholic parish
- Christengemeinde Arche Künzelsau e.V.
- Süddeutsche Gemeinschaft Künzelsau
The Albert Berner Foundation is one of the permanent sponsors of the institution. Many of the purchases of food and other supplies are based on a wish list and brought in personally by Berner employees. “The goods are sold in our food bank for a third of the regular price,” ex-plains Thomas Kallerhoff. “Since we earn only about half of our funding through sales, we are dependent on additional donations. We are very grateful to the Albert Berner Foundation for its many years of loyal support.”
The food bank’s first vehicle, a Ford Tourneo, was already financed by the Albert Berner Foundation. The car will now be replaced after 12
years. The facility can look forward to the donation of a new Opel Combo Cargo XL. The symbolic key handover took place this week at the Berner Group’s head office in Garnberg. In keeping with the winter season, the vehicle is equipped with all-season tires and a professional product set from the wholesale distributor’s range (including wind-screen cleaners with antifreeze and deicer spray).
The trunk of the stylish white minivan is also outfitted with air conditioning for transporting food. Volunteers collect the food from super-markets, bakeries or butcher’s shops. The collection tour goes across the Kocher and Jagst valleys. Drivers cover 800 to 1,000 kilometers a month between Kupferzell and Krautheim. The food bank could not be run without the help of volunteers – they decorate, sort goods on the shelves and sell products. A total of 45 people volunteer at the Künzelsau Food Bank.
“My special thanks go out to the many volunteers,” stresses Ursula Berner. “They dedicate their free time to helping people who are socially and economically disadvantaged. I find that admirable. With our donation we are also hoping to send a signal to all supporters of the Künzelsau Food Bank to show them how much we value this exceptional commitment to the common good.”
Those who would also like to support the Künzelsau Food Bank with a donation can do so by using the following bank account at Sparkasse Hohenlohekreis: Account number 5 011 489, bank code 622 515 50, IBAN DE30 6225 1550 0005 0114 89, BIC SOLADES1KUN.
Further information on the facility can be found online at: https://www.kreisdiakonieverband-hohenlohekreis.de/laeden/kuen-zelsauer-tafel/
Albert Berner Foundation
The non-profit Albert Berner Foundation was established in 1995 to mark the 60th birthday of its namesake, Albert Berner. The Albert Berner Foundation is dedicated to supporting children and adults in the social and cultural field, as well as in sports and education, mainly in the Hohenlohe region. Since its inception, the foundation has helped extensive lighthouse projects as well as smaller organizations to advance their goals. The Albert Berner Foundation pays particular attention to the long-term nature of the projects it supports, in addition to the regional factor. For many years, numerous organizations and projects have enjoyed the support of the Foundation.
News
With a new musical programme, the Keppler Foundation in Künzelsau can now reach even more very old residents and residents with dementia in its homes - for the first time, especially those who are not mobile. The pilot project, which will initially run for one year, is being made possible thanks to generous start-up funding from the Albert Berner Foundation.
Künzelsau, 20 April 2023: "Giving days more life." This was the motto of the Albert Berner Foundation, Sparkasse Hohenlohekreis and the Rotary Club Künzelsau-Öhringen for the latest edition of their traditional charity concert.