Sustainable on the road: Schalke Hilft! Hands over the electric vehicle to Kindertafel
In May 11th, Schalke Hilft! handed over an electric vehicle to the Kindertafel Gelsenkirchen for the Pausenbrot initiative, which supplies primary and special schools with a healthy breakfast.
The school bell rings for the big break and the stomach growls. The sad fact is that some pupils do not reach for their lunch boxes – they have neither brought food for the lessons nor eaten breakfast at home. FC Schalke 04 sees it as its social responsibility to face up to this fact and to support projects that do not leave children in need in this situation alone. The Kindertafel initiative is set up by the Tafel Gelsenkirchen e.V. due to the high demand for social institutions and schools to improve the living conditions of needy children and young people.
“When we talk about child poverty, we have to talk about the fact that many children already lack basic needs. This is a huge problem, especially in Gelsenkirchen, where almost every second child is affected by poverty. FC Schalke 04 sees it as its social responsibility to face up to this fact and support projects that do not leave needy children in this situation alone.”
Sebastian Buntkirchen, managing director of the Schalke hilft! foundation
The Pausenbrot initiative is one of these projects and was launched back in 2006 by the Kindertafel Gelsenkirchen. From Mondays to Fridays, the volunteer team now prepares more than 600 snacks every day and the ingredients are freshly bought. Together with fruit and vegetables, the helpers then distribute the healthy meal to eleven primary and special schools throughout the city.
Schalke Hilft! has already financed a small car for delivery in the past – now Kindertafel has received an electric vehicle, which was co-financed by the Schalke Golf Club. At the Thousand Friends Wall, Sebastian Buntkirchen and Natascha Schwenzfeier from Schalke hilft! with Erwin Kremers, who organises the Schalke Golf Club together with twin brother Helmut, handed over the e-car to Hartwig Szymiczek, Managing Director of Tafel Gelsenkirchen e.V. Erwin and Helmut Kremers have already been guests at the children’s food bank and actively helped with the “Initiative Pausenbrot”.
“We were able to see for ourselves what all the helping hands do there every day,” emphasises the former Schalke professional. “I think this commitment is absolutely important and I am pleased that the Schalke Golf Club can support this impressive initiative with an electric trolley. I consider this commitment to be absolutely important and am pleased that the Schalke Golf Club is able to support this impressive initiative with an electric cart.”
Erwin Kremers, organizer of the Schalke Golf Circle
Hartwig Szymiczek is also pleased about the possibility that Gelsenkirchen schools can now be supplied with snacks in a more sustainable way.
“We have been cooperating with Schalke hilft! since 2007. I’m very happy about the support for our work and that the projects we set out to do can be implemented together with our volunteers. The electricity for the electric vehicle is partly drawn by the Kindertafel from its photovoltaic system on the roof of the Claire Waldoff House. This makes us even more sustainable on the road.”
Hartwig Szymiczek, Managing Director of Tafel Gelsenkirchen e.V
