Germany is officially in the fourth wave of the pandemic. After a summer of poking our head out of our shell, feeling like maybe – maybe! – things were a little closer to normal, another lockdown looms.
The new coalition government is doing their best to avoid this, but as one minister gloomy uttered, it is “Fünf Minuten nach Mitternacht”. This is a play on the saying “Fünf Minuten vor Mitternacht” (“Five minutes before midnight”) indicating we are already past the warning stage and well into the danger zone.
Donation Boxes in Berlin PHOTO: Erin Porter
Recent changes to our health and safety parameters in Berlin have included kids masking back up at school and some attending in shifts, free test centers have re-opened, masks are required in open-air gatherings like Weihnachtsmärkte (but at least they are open – unlike in Bavaria) and there are updates to 3G, 2G and now there is 2G+.
- 3G means you must be geimpft, genesen, or getestet (vaccinated, recovered or tested)
- 2G means only those vaccinated or recovered from Covid are allowed entry
- 2G+ adds that you must bring an official Covid test from the last 24 hours.
This increased scrutiny is hoped to stop the current swell of infections, but more grim statement from the health department predict that by the end of this winter they expect nearly everyone in Germany to be vaccinated, recovered, or dead. Once again, things are looking quite dismal in Germany.
Like everyone, I have been affected by Covid. I have lost a family member and my life and career have been drastically altered by the pandemic. Luckily for me, most of the dust has settled and while these increased measures remind us that pre-Covid normalcy may never return, my life is fairly comfortable. My plans to return to the USA for Christmas are still on as my husband and children all hold US passports. We are working from home and kids are going to Kita and school regularly. But one way many white-collar workers like us are being affected is the cancellation of the beloved Office Christmas party.
I work on my startup’s people team and as we had several out-of-town colleagues visiting the city, it seemed natural to plan an event. People are so starved for a meet-up so a casual get together ballooned from 20 to 50 people. As Covid deaths in Germany passed the 100,000 mark we realized ethically there was no way to hold an in-person gathering. I have seen other companies come to the same conclusion and end-of-the-year parties are getting canceled, one after the other.
The silver lining here (and point of this post) is that we were still able to hold a clothing drive for the Berliner Stadtmission. On the heels of sending a message out regrettably canceling our work event, I had several colleagues contact me hopefully asking if we were still doing the clothing drive. It brought joy to us knowing we were still participating in something as a group and gathering clothes for donation was easy, worthwhile, and Covid restriction friendly. In this time of ongoing crisis, it is important to remember what we have and give to those that aren’t as fortunate. ‘Tis the season after all.
While there are plenty of donation boxes around the city, some of these are for-profit organizations and not ideal if your aim is to help the needy. Boxes marked with the FairWertung logo or Red Cross are a better option. Also note that many facilities have limited space so look online for lists of current needs. Here is a little bit more about the Berliner Statdmission as well as other charities in Berlin where you might consider donating your clothes, food, time or money.
(Note: If you are interested in donating your time, be aware that many places require German, but may be urgently in need of speakers of other languages for translation purposes. Also be ready to commit yourself throughout the year rather than just during the holidays.)
Where to Donate in Berlin
The Berlin City Mission is an independent aid organization founded in 1877. It is under the umbrella of the Evangelical Church Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia. They offer emergency shelter and long-term residence for the homeless, displaced youth, seniors, and refugees. Their calendar is full of events, they have employment services to help people find works, and they share stories of people they were able to support. There are large donation boxes at their location near Hauptbahnhof which are perfect for contactless (aka Covid-safe charity), and they also accept food donations for their kitchen. The Stadtmission also operates the Kältebus when temperatures dip to freezing to help get those outside somewhere warm (call 030- 690 333 690 for services, and ask the person in need if they want help before calling).
Berliner Statdmission PHOTO: Erin Porter
This organization acts as advocates for refugees pressuring politicians at a national level as well as providing German language classes, help with the endless German bureaucracy in filling out forms and accompanying to appointments, help finding accommodation, and more. They are in need of funding as they are not a government agency and also are looking for people interested in joining their cause.
This animal shelter is housed in a massive concrete complex that looks straight out of the future. Used as a movie set for blockbusters like Aeon Flux, on a day-to-day basis it is Europe’s largest animal shelter spread out over 16 hectares with four large cat houses, six large dog houses, a small animal house, a bird house and a large enclosure for cats living in the wild. There is also the animal welfare farm for pigs, goats, sheep, geese and chickens as well as an exotic station for reptiles, monkeys. The site has its own veterinary practice, pet cemetery, and event hall available for rental. It is worth a visit just to look around, but volunteers are also needed to foster cats and dogs, donate materials, and provide financial support.
This UK charity group has a German branch that has been able to continue since the break of Brexit to continue their good works. Oxfam has the highest Platinum level transparency and accountability status with GuideStar, a philanthropic research organization. Oxfam delivers humanitarian relief in crises, strengthens local groups committed to social justice, exposes the underlying structures of poverty, and campaigns for political and business decision-makers to act responsibly. They also have shops, run by volunteers, where you can buy a variety of second-hand goods.
Often in need of donations like warm clothes like gloves and staples like coffee and tomato paste, consult their list of what supplies they are currently searching for.
Berlin’s waste services don’t just throw things away. They also provide listings of local organizations that accept donations so your trash can be someone else’s treasure.
Have a charity you’d like to share? I’d love to see more in the comments. Let’s be kind.
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