Those associated with VfL Wolfsburg were hammering, drilling and sawing this week – but it was all for a good cause. As part of the club's Gemeinsam-Bewegen (Moving Together) day, male and female players, as well as club employees and fans, helped out on an array of social projects under the slogan '11 for 11' (11 places, 11 projects – one team).
Taking place for the third time (following 2013 and 2016), the charitable day was organised by VfL Wolfsburg as part of the CSR programme Moving Together.
Whether it was working in the Rittergut Beienrode garden, helping to construct a football pitch at the Bernsteinsee House or taking clothes, blankets and cuddly toys to the Wolfsburger Elfen charity, around 200 Wolves – including Managing Director for Sport Jörg Schmadtke, member of the management board Dr Tim Schumacher, head coach Bruno Labbadia and his coaching staff – gave up their free time to make themselves useful in and around the city.
"Devote yourself to the really important things"
"It's a really good thing, both for the projects themselves and for the whole club," said Schmadtke. "It's important to come out of your comfort zone and devote yourself to the really important things."
Alongside Felix Klaus, John Anthony Brooks, Paul Verhaegh, Yannick Gerhardt, Alexandra Popp, Anna Blässe and Meret Wittje, Schmadtke helped to build a rabbit petting zoo in the Wolfsburg animal enclosure.
Sporting director Marcel Schäfer was also in attendance, having previously helped the Wolfsburger Elfen charity. "The 'Moving Together' day is an outstanding initiative," he said. "We're well aware of our social responsibilities and enjoy fulfilling them. It's also a really good opportunity to unite the whole VfL family and work on something together."
Club head coach Bruno Labbadia led a training session for refugee team Ehra-Lessien and afterwards discussed the importance of helping out in the community: "Whenever things are going well for you, that's when you should look to help others out. Not everyone has it quite so good and you shouldn't just turn away. I don't just see this sort of initiative as a responsibility for the club, but also as a responsibility for all of us as human beings."
Click here for the best pictures from the 'Moving Together' day.
