Help for those in need of care, support for refugees, emergency pastoral care: 12 women and men will be honored with the “Thuringian Rose” on Friday (1 p.m.) for their voluntary social commitment. The winners come from the Ilm district, the Altenburger Land, the Wartburg district and the city of Jena, among others. The award commemorates Saint Elizabeth of Thuringia (1207-1231), who cared for the poor and sick and was canonized for her mercy. According to legend, bread in her basket, which she wanted to give to the poor, turned into roses during an inspection to protect her.
Her place of work was the Wartburg, where Minister of Social Affairs Heike Werner (left) will present the award, which is endowed with a total of 3000 euros. In the run-up, Werner described voluntary work as a cornerstone of society. “The many people who work voluntarily and with great dedication for the common good in Thuringia make a significant contribution to strengthening cohesion and improving the quality of life,” she said, according to the announcement.
