New guardian of the hiking trails: Förtsch brings a breath of fresh air to volunteer work!

New guardian of the hiking trails: Förtsch brings a breath of fresh air to volunteer work!

Frank Förtsch is the new district route manager for the Rhön and Grabfeld regions in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district. The 62-year-old from Untermaßfeld is now volunteering to look after and maintain the hiking trails. During the last district council meeting, Förtsch was appointed to his new honorary position by district administrator Peggy Greiser. When he was welcomed, he received small gifts from the region, which made his new role even more festive. Förtsch, who will retire in November, has a lot of experience as a recreational hunter in dealing with forests and fields, which will be of great use to him in his new role.

Volunteering: A pillar for the community

In Germany, around 31 million people show a strong interest in becoming active on a voluntary basis. As the Rhönkanal reports, the activities are very diverse: whether in sports clubs, retirement homes, in the emergency services or at the fire department - support is needed everywhere. Volunteering not only enriches coexistence, but also offers help in numerous life situations. The Rhön-Grabfeld district promotes volunteer work through a specially set up coordination office, which acts as a central contact point for all volunteers.

The event series “Volunteering in Focus” is currently running in the district. Topics that are important for clubs and volunteers are discussed here. A highlight was the last event on e-invoices for clubs, which is available on the district's YouTube channel. Future topics include the introduction of artificial intelligence on January 28, 2025 as well as funding opportunities and tax tips for clubs. These events offer those involved the opportunity to further their education and expand their skills.

Growing importance of volunteer work

Worldwide, volunteering is a voluntary, unpaid activity that is essential for social engagement. According to Statista, volunteering also includes donations and other financial activities. For example, sports clubs are one of the most common forms of involvement in Germany, with almost 86,000 sports clubs. In addition to the sporting opportunities, over a million people are also involved in various tasks in the volunteer fire department and around 900,000 in the Evangelical Church in Germany.

Volunteer helpers are also more in demand than ever at food banks and charitable organizations such as the German Red Cross. It is important not only to consider these questions, but above all to act actively to strengthen the community and promote cohesion.

Especially at a time when social commitment is valued more than ever, the contribution of people like Frank Förtsch is indispensable. Every small step in volunteering makes a difference - and the journey often takes you a little way out into nature. This is precisely what gives people the opportunity not only to stand up for others, but also to be a valuable part of the community themselves.