Social Affairs Minister Magnus Jung pays a visit to the Saarlouis panel; dialogues with volunteers discuss state policies
Dr. Magnus Jung, Minister for Work, Social Affairs, Women and Health, paid a visit to the Saarlouis branch of Caritas Saar-Hochwald food bank on July 22, 2025. The Minister's visit focused on a direct exchange with approximately 30 volunteers present, with the aim of understanding the daily operations and the issues they face.
One of the highlights of the visit was the introduction of a digital customer management system in Saarlouis in 2024. This system streamlines the registration, eligibility verification, and appointment scheduling processes, enabling the food bank to serve a total of 420 households, with approximately 210 adults and up to 130 children currently being served.
The food bank, however, faces challenges like growing competition from food-sharing initiatives, rising operating costs, and limited storage capacity. Rising rental costs and lack of parking for volunteers were key topics of the conversation. The volunteers expressed hope for concrete support from local and state politics in the future.
Support from the population, schools, kindergartens, and local groups remains a crucial pillar of food bank operations. The voluntary work at the food bank is carried out by 73 active members, who contribute around 12,000 hours annually in various areas such as transportation, sorting, distribution, and administration.
In terms of digital innovations, the switch from Excel tables to a modern solution has enabled better evaluations and targeted planning. With the digital customer management system, household size and eligibility can be efficiently recorded. However, specific case studies or documentation discussing digital practices for the Saarlouis branch of Caritas Saar-Hochwald are not publicly available as of the latest data.
The Minister's visit was seen as an important sign of political recognition by the volunteers. The food bank, which has been in operation since 2006, operates within a catchment area that includes the city of Saarlouis and the communities of Wallerfangen, Wadgassen, Ensdorf, Schwalbach, Überherrn, Bous, and Saarwellingen.
As the food bank continues to evolve and adapt to meet the needs of the community, it will be interesting to see how digital innovations can further streamline operations and provide more efficient services. For detailed insights into the digital practices of Caritas Saar-Hochwald, contacting them directly or reviewing their official publications may be necessary.
- The volunteers expressed their hope for concrete support from local and state politics, particularly in addressing the rising rental costs and lack of parking for volunteers, which are key challenges faced by the Saarlouis branch of Caritas Saar-Hochwald food bank.
- In the realm of politics and general-news, the Minister's visit to the Saarlouis branch of Caritas Saar-Hochwald food bank gained significance as it served as an important sign of political recognition for the dedicated volunteers working tirelessly within the complex landscape of addressing community food needs.
