Berliner Tafel

The Berliner Tafel e.V., founded in 1993, is the first and oldest food bank in Germany. It is dedicated to preserving food from waste and supporting needy people in Berlin.

• Berliner Tafel Klassik: Delivery of approximately 400 social institutions such as soup kitchens and counseling centers with flawless food to support their supply and save costs[3][4].
• LAIB und SEELE: In collaboration with Berlin church communities, LAIB und SEELE provides needy people at 49 distribution points with food. Volunteer helpers organize the weekly distribution[1][3][4].
• KIMBA: The KIMBA program offers cooking classes for children and teenagers, where they learn to handle food consciously and cook healthy, vegetarian dishes[1][3][4].

The Berliner Tafel e.V. operates according to a clear code of ethics shared by all food banks in Germany. This includes:

• The distribution of flawless food
• Predominantly voluntary and independent work
• No mutual competition (only one food bank per city)
• Help for all people in need of assistance[1][2][5].

The Berliner Tafel e.V. makes a significant contribution to environmental protection and sustainability by utilizing surplus food. This includes:

• Food Collections: Regular collections of leftover food, e.g., at the Fruit Logistica, where tons of fruit and vegetables are collected annually[1][4].
• One More: An initiative calling on citizens to buy and donate extra food while shopping to support people affected by poverty[1].
• Soup with Meaning: A cooperation with Berlin restaurants that offer a soup from November to March, with proceeds benefiting the Berliner Tafel[1].