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Feed 212 families each week at the Thursday Table in Dortmund

Help keep a free food pantry open for students and shift workers in Dortmund.

🇩🇪 Germany1,982 views
Elif Ebru Karaca
Email verifiedPassport verified
Dortmund
Since 2022, our volunteer team has run the Thursday Table every Saturday from the back of a community center. We started with 27 families, and now we feed 212 each week. Donations have dropped by about 39% this summer, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 16 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Dortmund market and keep every receipt. Each $50 feeds a family of four for a week. All of the funds go to groceries, fresh produce, and cold-storage costs. Where the $2,250 goes: • Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $1,900 • Baby formula and diapers: $185 • Refrigeration and electricity: $165 Thanks for reading all this.
#food-pantry#hunger#volunteer-led#food

Updates from Elif

  1. We're at 18% thanks to 13 of you. the plan for refrigeration and electricity is now scheduled. More news soon.

  2. Quick update: $285 raised so far (13%). the plan for rice, beans, flour and oil is now scheduled. Receipts coming as soon as I have them.

  3. 4% there. I made the first payment toward refrigeration and electricity. Thank you.

Donations

RecentTop gifts
  • Isaac Kelechi Yusuf 🇳🇬 · $250
  • Lakshmi N. Rathnam 🇮🇳 · $100

    “Thought of Elif all day after reading this. - Mumbai”

  • Travis Williamson 🇬🇧 · $100
  • Leo M. Nunez 🇨🇦 · $50

    “Hope things get better. Gave what I could this week. - Montréal”

  • Fatema Molla 🇮🇳 · $50
  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $50

    “Thought of Elif all day after reading this. - Mangaluru”

  • Kagiso R. Moodley 🇿🇦 · $50

    “Hope things get better. Thought of Elif all day after reading this. - Gqeberha”

  • Anna A. Shelton 🇨🇦 · $34
  • Jaxon J. Vega 🇺🇸 · $30
  • Nancy Priscilla Boateng 🇬🇭 · $30
  • Natalia G. Lee 🇺🇸 · $25
  • Dylan Guerrero 🇺🇸 · $23
  • Intan Sri Siregar 🇮🇩 · $20
  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $20
  • Hetal F. Chavan 🇮🇳 · $15
  • Marie Laurent 🇫🇷 · $15

    “My sister told me about this one. - Poitiers”

  • Miguel M. Ibáñez 🇺🇸 · $15
  • Gamze Şule Yılmaz 🇹🇷 · $12

    “Thought of Elif all day after reading this. - Istanbul”

  • Anonymous 🇮🇩 · $10

    “Hope this helps. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Ubud”

  • Anton Schmidt 🇩🇪 · $10

    “Hope the July deadline works out. - Essen”

Reviews

2.5(4 reviews)

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

  • Huda Taghreed Tawfik🇸🇦Verified helper
    Genuine person with a big heart

    I was struggling and didn't know where to turn. This person stepped in without hesitation and provided exactly what I needed. Their compassion and expertise made all the difference in my life.

  • Janet Halima Mwangi🇹🇿Verified donor
    Would recommend to anyone

    I was skeptical at first, but this person proved to be reliable and genuinely interested in helping. Their response time was incredible and their solutions were practical.

  • Bhavna M. Yadav🇮🇳Verified helper
    Restored my faith in humanity

    Couldn't have asked for better support. They listened carefully, understood my situation deeply, and provided thoughtful advice that actually worked. Thank you so much.

  • Ama Patience Gyasi🇬🇭Verified donor
    Professional and kind

    I had a complex problem and this person helped me navigate it step by step. Their expertise combined with their kindness made all the difference.

Questions & comments

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  • Raúl G. Campos

    Take care, Elif. Shared this with my family. Greetings from Los Angeles.

    • Sumon Nazrul Hossain

      You're not alone, Elif. Hope you get there. My husband and I read this together. Blessings.

      • Olumide Kingsley Salami

        Good luck, Elif. Shared it with a few friends. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry. All the best.

        • Rani Fani Siregar

          Thanks for sharing this. Hope you get there. Greetings from Madurai

          • Brooklyn M. Wright

            Hope it all works out. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Put this on a community board in Ottawa this morning. Thinking of Dortmund.

            • Shahid Imran Ismail

              Hope things get better soon, Elif. Looking forward to the next update. I hope July is when things finally get easier. God bless

              $934 raised of $2,250

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