The circle of helpers of the Kreisklinik Groß-Gerau celebrates its anniversary
The circle of helpers of the Kreisklinik Groß-Gerau celebrates its anniversary
The circle of helpers of the Kreisklinik Groß-Gerau celebrates its anniversary
40 years of patient volunteering
Gross-Gerau, On 19 August 2021, the circle of helpers of the Groß-Gerau District Hospital celebrates its 40th anniversary. Due to the Corona-related situation, the celebration will take place in a small circle. From 6:00 p.m., the volunteer circle celebrates together with the managing director of the Groß-Gerau district hospital Prof. Erika Raab, the district administrator Thomas Will and the former district administrator Willi Blodt.
“As a district hospital, we are happy to celebrate this beautiful occasion together with the members of our circle of helpers. They have been bringing so much joy for a long time, benefiting not only our patients but also our medical and nursing colleagues.
In addition to the anniversary, there is another reason for joy: The current 17 members of the Helpers’ Circle are planning to resume their work on 20 September 2021 after the long COVID-19 break. ‘We are delighted to be back for patients after this long period of isolation,’ says Gudrun Schupp, first chair of the Helpers’ Circle. ‘For us, the commitment to the patients is charity practiced.’
As a test, the circle of helpers will initially only be available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. If the infection continues to develop positively in autumn and winter, the volunteers hope to be able to return to patients in full soon. "We have time to give patients attention and an open ear. In this way, we also support carers, who have their hands full in their service and thus have little time for mental health care.”
Since its foundation on 31 March 1981 by Helene Timme and Willi Blodt, the circle of helpers has contributed significantly to the successful implementation of numerous projects to support patient pastoral care and care through numerous actions, such as the purchase of clothing for patients. Today, the circle of helpers operates, among other things, the patient library, organizes and maintains flower boxes and further planting to beautify the house, decorates the clinic for Christmas and takes care of child care every year on the open day.
In addition to the Kreissparkassen Prize, the helper circle of the Kreisklinik Groß-Gerau has already received the German Citizen's Prize 2017. Some members who have already been active in the circle of helpers (and thus in voluntary work) for more than twelve years have already received the Hessian Honorary Letter. Outside the classical field of activity, the helpers are always active for the district clinic: In 2017, for example, they collected over 17,000 signatures against the closure of the hospital.
