Olaf Kleinschmidt: A life for the community and volunteer work!

Olaf Kleinschmidt: A life for the community and volunteer work!

Volunteering is flourishing in Neustadt, and Olaf Kleinschmidt is at the forefront. The 70-year-old native of Frankfurt not only brings valuable life and professional experience, but also a tireless commitment to his community. “I do it out of conviction,” says Kleinschmidt. Born on June 15, 1955, the son of a pastor and a religious teacher, the values ​​of volunteerism shaped his life from an early age. After he lived in Meckenheim until he was nine, the family moved to Haßloch, where he finished his schooling with a secondary school diploma and finally began an apprenticeship as a baker.

His professional career took him through various bakeries to become a master baker, which sharpened his sense of hard work and craftsmanship. After a formative period in the baking products company in Schriesheim, he found his way to Neustadt, where he worked as an advertising consultant for over ten years. But despite his successes with bread dough, he anchored his passion in volunteer work. Rhine Palatinate reports that he has been a member of the CDU since 1972 and is committed to the Old Winzinger Church. There he initiated the Winzinger Talks and took over the chairmanship of the support group.

Commitment to the youngest

His heart also beats for the smallest members of the community: As chairman of the Neustadt Deaconess Association, Kleinschmidt sets standards. The association supported a new equipment shed for the Paulus daycare center in Hambach with an impressive amount of 10,000 euros. "The importance of kindergartens is immeasurable for us. This is where the foundation for the future is laid," says Kleinschmidt emphatically. The donation was supported by a team led by treasurer Georg Rahner and the former pastor Ludger Mandelbaum. Christoph Goebel, a skilled carpenter and father, turned the project into a reality, supported by dedicated parents who volunteered to help with the construction. The new tool shed now offers a sheltered place for play equipment such as bobby cars and tricycles. Weekly newspaper reporter highlights how important collaboration between parents and daycare is.

Kleinschmidt knows that the involvement of volunteers is essential for the development of the daycare centers. “We have to integrate social space into our work,” he emphasizes, and sees this as a valuable opportunity to develop the daycare centers into family centers. Well-organized supervision and support for volunteers in the form of regular meetings and a clear concept are crucial in order not to overload the team and to ensure sustainable support.

Diverse initiatives

But Kleinschmidt doesn't stand still: As deputy chairman of the Ecumenical Social Station and acting chairman for three years, he has the reins here too. In his role as house manager of the Martin Luther Parish, he brings people together and organizes numerous projects. From art and cultural events to diaconal campaigns, his commitment knows no bounds. A trade magazine explains how important this voluntary participation is for multi-faceted and lively community work.

With all of these activities, Kleinschmidt also finds time to occasionally bake cakes for friends and acquaintances. A real networker who shows that even the little things can bring great joy. The city of Neustadt can consider itself lucky to have gained such a committed citizen who works with heart and hand for the community.