Solidarity and rapid, unbureaucratic aid – that is what it was all about when, from March 2020 onwards, the rapid spread of Covid-19 led to massive restrictions on public life. In spring of last year, committed citizens from Marten, near Dortmund, launched a coordinated aid initiative, which resulted in the founding of the neighbourhood aid association "Marten aktiv" e.V. in July 2020. In order to create a continuous basis for providing this aid, the BVB foundation "leuchte auf" supported the establishment of a public contact point in the form of an accessible location in the heart of the area by providing start-up funding.

Whether it was supporting purchasing activities, supplying medication, emergency services or general solidarity – especially for people at increased risk of infection, the assistance provided by the Marten-based initiative was able to significantly reduce the risk of infection. In particular, sick and elderly residents were able to minimise the risk of being infected with the coronavirus outside their homes.

By raising awareness among the public, the project captured the interest of potential donors. Thanks to the new donations it raised, it was also possible to help people who had unexpectedly lost their income due to the pandemic. In order to institutionalise all these efforts, the association "Marten aktiv" e.V. was founded in July 2020.

Less than a year later, the club house on the mile, which has been rented since April 2021, has become an established meeting place for both young and old. In February of this year, the BVB Foundation funded precisely that with a grant of €6,500. Axel Wolff, president of the association, was delighted with the financial assistance: "With these funds, we were not only able to cover the rental costs, but could also provide our regular visitors with modern and appealing office and furniture equipment." The centrally located premises not only serve as a point of contact for other social organisations such as the Dortmunder Tafel or the Senior Citizens' Office – it also gives socially disadvantaged schoolchildren access to the Internet and computers to do their homework, for example.

"No small number of young people in Marten often do not have regular internet access in their own home or the necessary technical equipment. With our ten notebooks, we can offer the boys and girls help with their homework twice a week," says Wolff, visibly proud. The figures also show that it is worth supporting initiatives such as these: having started just a year ago with 12 founding members, the association had already grown to 57 members as of July 2021.

Axel Wolff was also impressed by the solidarity shown in his own district: "We want to provide financial support to people here in a straightforward way and make their daily lives easier – all the better if we motivate others to do it together with us. With strong partners like 'leuchte auf', it makes it that much easier for us. We are so grateful for this."