"Two decades of 'Amongst Us': Caritas commemorates its anniversary with a grand summer celebration"
The Mittendrin Senior Center in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, celebrated its 20th anniversary with a grand summer festival. Located at Hauptstraße 249, opposite the Forum Park, the center has been a community hub for older people for two decades, providing a space where no one feels alone and aging is shared together.
During the anniversary celebration, discussions regarding a support association and fundraising campaign were held. The exact details of these plans are yet to be announced, but the goal is to secure the long-term existence of both Mittendrin Senior Center and another institution in the city.
Mayor Frank Stein praised the center's importance in his greeting at the summer festival, affirming its vital role in the community. Astrid Hagl, the center's director, welcomed guests, and the municipal senior office, a reliable partner over the years, was also in attendance.
The Caritas Association for the Rheinisch-Bergisch District e.V., which operates nine kindergartens and employs around 500 people, with around 360 volunteers involved, has valued the long-standing and reliable cooperation with the city of Bergisch Gladbach in finding sustainable solutions.
Talks are underway to establish a support association for the senior centers, a model that has proven successful in many areas. This move is part of a broader strategy to address the financing challenges that the center has faced since its inception.
The final report of the neighborhood conferences 2023/2024 highlights the importance of senior centers like Mittendrin for social cohesion. The reduction in opening hours for the senior centers "Mittendrin" and "Annahaus" in Paffrath, also due to financial reasons, underscores the need for such support.
In the autumn of 2025, a fundraising campaign will be launched, accompanied by the art project "The Radiance of Age." The art project will have its vernissage on September 3 in the pedestrian zone of Bergisch Gladbach.
For those seeking more detailed and updated information about the Mittendrin Senior Center’s support association and fundraising campaign, it is recommended to contact the center or local Bergisch Gladbach community resources directly.
