This year, Harald Wintjen and Jürgen Prokop, two people who volunteer outside of an association, were honored. The DLRG local groups in Salzgitter also received special recognition. A colourful show programme and a communal meal rounded off the event organized by Bäder, Sport und Freizeit Salzgitter GmbH.

The United Nations launched the Day of Volunteering in 2001. In the same year, the first event to honor particularly committed citizens took place in Salzgitter.

"The tireless work of our volunteers deserves our utmost respect and a very special event at which we can honor this commitment," emphasized Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel.

Harald Wintjen was honored for his achievements in sporting integration work, which he offers through his "Football for Refugees" project. He follows the motto "Sport connects" and organizes an extensive range of soccer activities for refugees on a voluntary basis. Jürgen Prokop puts just as much heart and soul into his work around the graduation house in the rose garden in Salzgitter-Bad, which was built in 2009. He looks after and maintains the facility and is also happy to explain how it works to visitors. "Both do a great job for our city," emphasized Frank Klingebiel in his thanks.

The second part of the evening focused on volunteering on, in and under water. Around 1,700 citizens are active in the five local groups of the DRLG in Salzgitter (Thiede, Üfingen, Lebenstedt, Gebhardshagen and Salzgitter-Bad). "It is our volunteer water specialists who save lives with their daily work," said Frank Klingebiel in his speech. The tasks performed by the DLRG in Salzgitter are numerous. These include thousands of swimming courses for young and old, basic and advanced training for lifeguards, water rescue operations and disaster control work.