The Christmas party for the Group Sustainability Office (GSO) combines "time together as a team" with commitment to the socially disadvantaged. 
My Time Bank team told us that Caritas is urgently looking for volunteers for the "Glanzing Wärmestube", especially for the Christmas holidays - just what we needed. 

The 35 "Wärmestuben" offer people, regardless of their origin, religion or residence status, a protective refuge in the cold winter.
Offered:

• a warm, comfortable recreation room 
• free catering 
• the opportunity to rest
• a sympathetic ear for sorrows and hardships
• a volunteer team to prepare and serve a hot lunch or coffee snack 

Our team outreach was on 3 January 2020 and we organised Erdapfelgulasch for 50 people at a nearby inn. Additionally we offered bread, pastries, fruit salad, homemade cake, hot and cold drinks and daily newspapers.

Already before 12:00, visitors came and were happy about their first warm meal that day. We found enough time to talk to the people. Everyone spoke good German or a guest translated the questions and wishes. There were people with academic education as well as people with little schooling. For all of them, it would not be expected that they would be dependent on this help because of their clothes or appearance - that means poverty is often not visible. 

After getting to know each other, we learned about unemployment, working poverty, mini pension, unheated flats (costs) or homelessness. And the relief and joy of being provided with warmth and food for a few hours. 
For us it was an immersion in another world that is so close. The gratitude, the smiles or hearty laughter we received from these people on the edge of society, showed us again how important social commitment is for the people concerned. 
We drove home with the feeling of having made a small contribution to the relief of people in extreme situations.  

Klaus Bergsmann / Group Sustainability Office