Welfare organisation on Mackestraße Bonner Tafel provides Christmas cheer for 4500 people in need

40 businesses are donating groceries, rescuing them from the bin and people who cannot afford much are looking forward to receiving them. There is also a Christmas package campaign again this year.

The mangos smell as sweet as sugar. “Great quality,” confirms Marianne Baldus. The oranges and mandarins are also perfect. “Impeccable,” says Horst-Dieter Tontarski. “It’s actually incomprehensible why no-one has bought such great products,” say the two board members of Bonner Tafel, shaking their heads. But it is fortunate for them, as they can today use the fruit to add a special delicacy to the menu of someone in need. Today there are fresh brassicas, potatoes, tomatoes, even the best olive oil, high quality jams and bouquets of flowers at Mackestraße – groceries that belong on the table and not in the bin.

As on every weekday, the association’s six vans were already underway in the city in the early morning. More than 40 businesses – from small, specialist companies to large discounters and supermarkets – now donate groceries that have not been sold every day. However, the Tafel sets high standards for the quality of its goods. Workers make sure that cool chains are strictly adhered to, goods are within their use-by dates, the packaging of dry goods is not damaged and that the lids of tinned foods are not bulging. The only things the voluntary helpers do not take are meat and fish. “We cannot store these products properly until distribution. Therefore we avoid them completely,” explains Tontarski.

A place for conversation

By 1pm, whatever has been collected in the morning is sorted. At exactly 4pm, the doors open for the distribution of the groceries. “Usually our customers are here much earlier though. We are also a place for communication here. Here they meet like-minded people and quickly find common topics of conversation,” observes Baldus. Vincent K. comes regularly to Mackestraße. “I have worked my whole life, but it is not enough to live on,” says the 73-year-old. His sick wife is waiting at home. “I don't know how we’d make ends meet without the Tafel. They are really angels who work here,” he says.

At the moment, regular customers are mainly the elderly suffering from old-age poverty, single mothers and families with large numbers of children. In Bonn, around 4500 people in need receive groceries from the Tafel each week. 20 childrens’ and youth homes (over 1600 people) are also supplied with raw vegetables, fruit and dairy products. Four senior citizens centres and five charitable institutions are also customers. “Around half of the goods go to 750 registered private households, who have proved to us they are in need,” says Baldus.

Despite the large number of goods, Marianne Baldus and Horst-Dieter Tontarski have a wish. “It would be nice if we had more winter vegetables. And now, before Christmas, we are looking forward to sweets and chocolates for the children.”

The Bonner Tafel is always looking for support. Voluntary helpers as well as drivers for the vans are always welcome. Donations of goods and money are accepted at any time. For further information go to: www.bonner-tafel.de (Original text: Gabriele Immenkeppel. Translated by Kate Carey.)

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