"Volunteering Day" for school crossing guards

The city of Offenbach honored volunteer school crossing guards at the Offenbach Filmklubb on Monday evening. On the occasion of Volunteer Day on December 5, the city of Offenbach thanks its citizens for their voluntary work. The evening event is dedicated to a different focus topic every year. Lord Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke thanked the volunteers who safeguard road crossings in front of Offenbach schools and make a significant contribution to road safety.

"Their commitment protects the most valuable thing we have: Our children," said Schwenke in his speech. Since the Offenbach school crossing guard service was founded in 1990 by Eduard Pogadl, retired police officer and initiator, hundreds of people have already performed an indispensable service. At Friedrich-Ebert-Schule, Buchhügel Primary School and Waldschule in particular, the volunteers regularly stand at the crossroads before school starts, mainly in the mornings, and ensure that the children can cross the road. The result of this commitment is impressive: after two fatalities in 1989 and 1990 were the sad reason for the creation of the school crossing guard service, no child has been killed in an accident on the way to school in Offenbach since then.

Schwenke emphasized the selflessness and perseverance of the volunteers: "Whether in the rain, snow, heat or cold, you show time and time again how important it is to be there for each other. The tasks of the school crossing patrols are more than just a friendly escort across the road. Through your commitment, you help to ensure that children not only arrive safely, but also learn how important it is to be mindful and pay attention in traffic, especially at this dark time of year. And many of you remain committed even when your own children have long since stopped going to school. This selflessness deserves the utmost respect," said the Lord Mayor, thanking the guests in attendance. This commitment is representative of the attitude towards life and therefore also the attitude towards the community.

The ceremony offered guests an informative and entertaining atmosphere, which was opened by the City of Offenbach's Volunteer Officer, Manuel Dieter. In a panel discussion with Gerhard Brink, President of the Hesse State Traffic Watch, Frank Weber, Head of the Offenbach Public Order Office, and the experienced school crossing guard Bodo Braun, who has completed over 500 missions in 18 years, the reasons and motivations for getting involved and the general importance of such activities were then discussed. At the same time, other measures were also discussed, such as the road safety weeks, which are intended to draw attention to the safety of the youngest in road traffic.

At the end of the event, the guests had the opportunity to chat over a buffet and share their experiences as road safety volunteers.

"Of course, we know that there are many other people in our city who spend a lot of time volunteering. These ideas, this time and this energy are indispensable for the functioning of our society and you all play a decisive role in preserving and further developing cooperation and coexistence in our city," Schwenke concluded.