Ford Transit as a lifesaver: This is how the Kölner Tafel helps every day!

Ford Transit as a lifesaver: This is how the Kölner Tafel helps every day!

A busy early morning in Cologne-Rodenkirchen: There is hectic activity in a warehouse in the industrial area. Boxes are sorted and forklifts transport pallets of food awaiting distribution. Here, where the new Ford Transit is supposed to take on its role as a food saver, the faces of Martina Pastor and Uli Schäfers can be seen. Both are passionately committed to the Kölner Tafel, where Uli acts as the responsible driver and Martina supports the administrative work. “Social commitment is not only useful, it’s also fun,” says Uli as they accept the keys to the Ford Transit from managing director Patrick Beganer.

This Ford Transit FT 350, equipped with a cooling system, is not just a new set of wheels, but part of a larger initiative. With this handover, Ford has started a nationwide collaboration with the “Stiftunglife” for food banks in Germany. Over the next 20 months, a total of 99 vehicles will be delivered to various food banks to support the logistical challenge of food distribution. Ford dealers ensure that all vehicles receive the necessary maintenance and inspection, with the Strunk car dealership taking responsibility for the Kölner Tafel, as Auto Flotte reports.

A photo opportunity with meaning

Uli Schäfers and Martina Pastor are the perfect team. While Uli has gained experience in food transport through his family history in the beverage trade, Martina is looking for a meaningful way to spend her time after her working life. Your commitment to the Kölner Tafel - which, since its founding in June 1995, has visited 160 stations a week with 65 volunteers and distributed more than 270 tonnes of food - shows how valuable every contribution can be. Together the two cover more than 95,000 kilometers per year and supply over 60 social institutions in Cologne with urgently needed food. This number shows how important such initiatives are.

The new E-Transit will not only be a practical tool, but also represents a sustainable future. An important feature of the Kölner Tafel is the focus on sustainability. Just like the Kölner Tafel, which has optimized its power supply with an installed PV system, the Ford Transit is also seen as a symbol of progress and innovation in urban areas. “The acceleration of the electric motor is impressive and helps us to make delivery routes more effective,” says Uli enthusiastically. The technical development of the Ford Transit, which has progressed ever since it was first introduced on August 9, 1965, also shows how much people have adapted. A lot has happened from the launch of the 2019 Ford Transit Custom Plug-in Hybrid to the introduction of the all-electric E-Transit in 2022.

The role of food sharing and social responsibility

Another component of Cologne's food rescue landscape is the association foodsharing e.V.. Driven by the belief that edible food is a valuable resource, foodsharing actively campaigns against food waste. They bring people who offer surplus food together with those in need and promote a sustainable society through education and digital networking. The successes speak volumes: millions of kilograms of food are saved every year and waste is reduced.

Whether through the Kölner Tafel or foodsharing e.V., the fight against food waste is more relevant than ever. Through its commitment, the Kölner Tafel shows how important it is to help everyone in need. Uli and Martina are not only “food savers”, but also aim to ensure that their work brings people together and strengthens social awareness. At the end of the visit to the warehouse, one thing remains certain: something is really happening here!