Volunteering Day in Gunzenhausen: Helpers in the focus of gratitude!

Volunteering Day in Gunzenhausen: Helpers in the focus of gratitude!

Last Saturday, December 7th, 2025, the Gunzenhausen market square shined in appreciation of voluntary commitment. On the occasion of Volunteer Day, numerous citizens came together to honor the dedicated helpers who work unpaid and with their heart and soul for the community. In their speeches, the district administrator and mayor expressed their gratitude for the tireless work of these quiet heroes of everyday life, who often work in the background and do a lot of good without making much of a fuss about it. “Volunteering is the heart of our city,” was the clear message of the event, which was captured by Horst Kuhn in NN.

The initiative to promote and recognize voluntary work is becoming increasingly important not only locally, but also nationally. The “Voluntary Support Award”, which was launched in July 2024 by the Donau-Iller-Bank and SÜDWEST PRESSE, awards 30,000 euros annually to support volunteers and their initiatives. In this year's round, 15 winners were selected, including young, aspiring volunteers. “We want to give volunteer work a face,” reported Martin Tröster, editorial director of SÜDWEST PRESSE in SWP.

Volunteering: A Growing Movement

According to current statistics, around 29 million people in Germany do voluntary work, which means nothing less than that almost one in three Germans supports others in some way. These activities are often long-term and unpaid, driven by the desire to give something back to the community. The term “volunteering” describes an activity that is associated with an office to which someone is elected and always benefits third parties. But not only the traditional forms of engagement are important, the spontaneous, project-based engagement that many young people practice today also finds its place in society, as Vostel explains in detail.

The support from communities and cities, as is the case in Ehingen, plays a crucial role. Here, volunteers are supported in their activities, be it through the provision of space or through financial support for clubs. The importance of this support was also reflected at the award ceremony for the “Voluntary Support Award”, when Mayor Alexander Baumann described volunteers as indispensable pillars of society who make our cities worth living in.

The winners of the volunteer award

The commitment shown by the award winners in the various categories ranges from social to cultural initiatives. Here are the winners in each class:

Overall, these awards are more than just a prize - they are a sign of recognition and motivation for all those who work for others in their free time. Volunteering remains important, and our common effort must be all the more important to promote and honor this valuable asset.