The Tafel and food poverty in Germany
Founded in 1993 by four women in Berlin, Germany, the Berliner Tafel is Germany’s oldest food rescue organization. The Tafel concept was quickly replicated and eventually developed into a nationwide network. Today, the Berliner Tafel has approximately 1,800 volunteers who tirelessly work to collect surplus food and deliver it to those in need throughout the city. The organization supplies over 300 social initiatives ranging from homeless shelters to soup kitchens and operates 45 food distribution points, Laib und Seele, in partnership with churches and the regional radio and television network. The Berliner Tafel supports more than 125,000 people in need every month with quality food that would otherwise have been unnecessarily thrown away. After the organization’s primary mission of rescuing food had adequately matured, the decision was taken to branch out and impact the lives of the children and youth of Berlin by establishing the KIMBA programme, which aims to teach young people from all backgrounds the value of food, good nutrition and the importance of sharing a meal together. Through all these activities the Berliner Tafel bolsters the fabric of German society by supporting vulnerable citizens while simultaneously having a positive impact on the environment and encouraging solidarity within and among Berlin’s diverse communities.