It's done: the future of Salzgitter-Tafel e.V. can be permanently secured. After intensive negotiations under the leadership of Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel, the food bank can remain in its current accommodation.

Mayor Klingebiel states with relief: "The food bank has been housed in a private hall on Söhlekamp for many years, thankfully on very favorable terms. Last fall, however, the owners announced that they wanted to sell their hall, which was in urgent need of renovation. The city council then spent the past few months searching intensively for alternative premises, which not only had to be affordable, but also had to meet the special requirements of the food bank. Unfortunately without success. At the same time, together with my department heads Eric Neiseke, Dr. Dirk Härdrich, Michael Tacke and Jan Bohling and the management of the Konrad-Fonds, Simone Kessner and Rainer Dworog, I held intensive talks with the owners and the food bank to find a joint solution for the food bank to remain at its current location. With success: the rental conditions and the municipal subsidy will be increased appropriately and moderately from January 1, 2026 and the urgently needed renovations to the rental property will be co-financed proportionately by subsidies from the Konradfonds for a long-term lease of 20 years. The Konradfonds Board of Trustees has already approved funding for the renovation of the electrical and heating systems. This secures an enormously important part of the social infrastructure in our city in the long term.

Klingebiel expressly thanked the owners for their willingness to forego the sale of their property under the conditions found and to allow the food bank to continue to exist at its current location.

"This solution would not have been possible without the owners' willingness to make a social commitment," emphasized Klingebiel. "I would like to thank the Scholz siblings, the members of the Salzgitter-Tafel e.V. association and the volunteers who work there. With the current solution, the uncertainty about the continuation of their important work for our fellow human beings in need has been dispelled. This is good news for Salzgitter and for all people who depend on the food bank to secure their daily lives. The Salzgitter food bank not only gives food a second chance, but - much more importantly - gives people new hope," concluded Klingebiel.

Mayor Klingebiel has recommended his solution to the Salzgitter City Council for approval. Following preliminary discussions in the specialist committees and the local councils, the council will decide on the mayor's proposed resolution at its meeting on Wednesday, December 10.