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Weekly meals for families facing hunger in Essen

Vanessa runs a volunteer pantry feeding 354 families; this fund restocks shelves for the winter.

🇩🇪 Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany1,291 views
Vanessa Gabriele Schmidt
Email verified
Essen
Since 2023, our volunteer team has run the Sunday Shelf every Thursday from the back of a school canteen. We started with 15 families, and now we feed 354 each week. Donations have dropped by about 37% this winter, 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 Essen market and keep every receipt. Each $50 feeds a family of four for a week. I'll post the weekly shopping receipts and a photo of the shelves each Sunday. Where the $1,150 goes: • Fresh vegetables and fruit: $590 • Baby formula and diapers: $410 • Refrigeration and electricity: $150 Thank you for reading my story.

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  • Leonardo McBride 🇬🇧 · $200

    “Thought of Vanessa all day after reading this. - London”

  • Uma C. Varadarajan 🇮🇳 · $197
  • Joseph B. Quincy 🇺🇸 · $60
  • Hải Cường Do 🇻🇳 · $50
  • Kehinde Ifeoma Ibrahim 🇳🇬 · $50
  • Rafael R. Cruz 🇦🇷 · $25
  • Teresa A. Contreras 🇪🇸 · $25

    “Keep your head up. I'm in Alicante, thinking of you. - Alicante”

  • Daniela C. Flores 🇪🇸 · $25

    “Rooting for you. Hope you get the rest soon. - Granada”

  • Yogita K. Gandhi 🇮🇳 · $25
  • Chloe F. Schneider 🇦🇺 · $20

    “Hope this helps. Hope the November deadline works out. - Sydney”

  • Carolina C. Vásquez 🇨🇴 · $20

    “Wishing you the best. Hope the November deadline works out. - Palmira”

  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $16
  • Anonymous 🇹🇷 · $15

    “Take care of yourselves. Thought of Vanessa all day after reading this. - Istanbul”

  • Jomar A. Magsaysay 🇵🇭 · $10
  • Mackenzie J. Shelton 🇬🇧 · $10
  • Garba Michael Falana 🇳🇬 · $10
  • Eko Aditya Kusuma 🇮🇩 · $5

Reviews

2.9(8 reviews)

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  • Gilbert M. Macaraeg🇵🇭Verified donor
    Amazing support system

    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.

  • Kajal S. Bhatt🇮🇳Verified helper
    Professional and kind

    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.

  • Lanre Segun Coker🇳🇬Verified helper
    Changed my perspective

    This is the kind of person who restores your faith in humanity. They didn't just offer help; they genuinely cared about my wellbeing and followed through on every commitment.

  • Philipp Paul Krüger🇩🇪Verified donor
    Outstanding person

    Perfect example of someone making a real difference. They took time out of their busy schedule to help me and never made me feel like a burden.

  • Chang-min Young-ho Hong🇺🇸Verified helper
    Restored my faith in humanity

    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.

  • Chebet Zawadi Kessy🇰🇪Verified donor
    Genuine person with a big heart

    The support I received was beyond what I expected. Not only did they help with the immediate need, but they also provided guidance for long-term solutions. I'm forever grateful.

  • Fon Busaba Mahawong🇹🇭Verified donor
    Professional and kind

    The support I received was beyond what I expected. Not only did they help with the immediate need, but they also provided guidance for long-term solutions. I'm forever grateful.

  • Henk Sander Blom🇳🇱Verified helper
    Professional and kind

    This is what community support looks like. They didn't just offer generic advice; they provided personalized help tailored to my specific situation.

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