Eating together to combat loneliness: Open lunch in Osterode!

Eating together to combat loneliness: Open lunch in Osterode!

In the picturesque town of Osterode, the issue of loneliness is becoming increasingly tangible - a problem that affects many and often remains hidden. An open lunch menu, which was created specifically to counteract social isolation, addresses this. The offer is aimed not only at older people, but also at single parents, newcomers and people with health restrictions and a migration history. As Land und Forst reports, this lunch table creates a low-threshold framework for encounters and conversations.

In a friendly atmosphere, delicious meals are prepared with fresh, regional ingredients and enjoyed together. Everyone is welcome, registration is not required. The project is funded by the state of Lower Saxony with 10,000 euros for five months and is intended to help strengthen neighborhoods and promote social cohesion.

Loneliness as a growing problem

The challenge of loneliness is not just a local phenomenon, but has taken on dimensions across Germany. Millions of people feel lonely, regardless of their age and background. Older women and younger people are particularly severely affected. The Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth has taken far-reaching steps to combat loneliness and social isolation with the ESF Plus program “Strengthening the Participation of Older People”. By 2027, over 70 projects with socially innovative offerings are to be funded, as BMFSFJ points out.

The program aims to improve the participation of older people and expand regional networking structures. The funding also extends to currently over 530 multi-generational houses nationwide, which act as important places for encounters and exchanges. These houses not only offer meeting opportunities, but also leisure activities and advice.

The risk factors at a glance

According to the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), certain groups are particularly at risk of suffering from loneliness. People with low incomes, under 35 years of age, and women living alone are particularly in focus. The results show that loneliness is closely linked to social and economic factors. In a comprehensive analysis, DIW found that the loneliness scale, which is used to measure the subjective feeling of loneliness, is high values for people with the risk factors mentioned.

Based on these findings, specific risk groups were identified. The aim is to develop measures that can specifically support these people. By creating community spaces such as the open lunch table in Osterode, concrete steps are taken to reduce feelings of loneliness and create social networks.

This makes it clear that the initiative in Osterode is not just a local response to an urgent problem, but is part of a larger, Germany-wide effort to effectively combat loneliness and strengthen social cohesion. The lunch table proves that eating together not only fills the stomach, but also connects hearts.