Berlin's Tafel food bank sees record demand as volunteers rally support

A simple 'One More!' at checkout is changing lives. Meet the Berliners turning grocery donations into hope for 94,000 people in crisis.

, and Administrator

2026 March 30 . 5:00 PM

1 min read

The image shows a food donation point in a building with orange cabinets filled with food items... — The image shows a food donation point in a building with orange cabinets filled with food items such as bottles, tins, boxes, and other objects. There are also boards with text on them, and through the glass windows in the background, we can see vehicles, trees, buildings, and the sky.

Berlin's Tafel food bank sees record demand as volunteers rally support

Volunteers in Neukölln are collecting food for Berlin's Tafel food bank as demand surges. The number of people relying on food distributions has nearly doubled since the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and rising inflation. At the Edeka branch on Karl-Marx-Straße, locals are donating extra groceries as part of the 'One More!' campaign. The campaign encourages shoppers to buy an extra item and leave it with volunteers at the checkout. With the slogan 'One More!', it runs at Easter, Harvest Festival, and Christmas, bringing in tons of additional donations. This year's Easter drive continues until April 4, 2026, with 15 Edeka, Rewe, and Kaufland branches taking part.

Among the volunteers are Anne, 33, who works at KaDeWe but spends her free Thursdays helping the Tafel, and Uschi, who has supported the Magdalenenkirche distribution point for 14 years. Their efforts feed into a much larger operation: the Berliner Tafel distributes 660 tons of food monthly, serving 94,000 people in shelters and soup kitchens. It also supplies 400 social facilities and hands out 70,000 portions to households in need. Nationwide, over 970 Tafel organisations run more than 2,000 distribution points, rescuing 265,000 tons of food annually. The Berlin branch stands out for its scale, operating 48 outlets and a logistics centre with 25 delivery vans. Despite Neukölln's economic challenges, many residents contribute, showing strong community support.

The 'One More!' campaign helps meet growing demand for food aid in Berlin. With donations from local supermarkets, the Berliner Tafel continues to expand its reach. The effort relies on volunteers like Anne and Uschi, who ensure thousands receive essential supplies each month.