Currents Winter 2021 Vol 37, No. 3 | Page 10

Hanseatic Help & You

Notes from a new volunteer
I had been meaning to volunteer at Hanseatic Help for a long time , and I guess a few factors held me back : misguidedly , I thought the location was far in the west , and also , I felt a little intimidated going alone . When I heard on short notice that a group from AWCH was getting together on a Sunday to help , I decided it was a good time to volunteer and to get my family to come with me . And checking the map , I realized the location was much more convenient than I thought — by the fish market on the harbor .
Donate Warmth Today !
Winter is approaching , and temperatures are dropping . This means many people are in need of winter clothes , especially for men . If you have winter items in good condition to part with , Hanseatic Help is urgently collecting the following items :
● warm , sturdy clothing for men and women : jeans and joggers , sweaters and hoodies , casual jackets , rain jackets , and especially thick winter jackets .
● children ‘ s clothes , especially small sizes ( 50-56 , 62-68 ), jackets and tops , winter jackets , triangle scarves , baby towels , sleep sacks , cuddly blankets
● sturdy winter shoes , boots , and sneakers for adults and children
● long underwear and gloves
● backpacks
● warm sleeping bags , sleeping mats , blankets , and tents
They gratefully accept the following items as new only :
● underwear and socks ( urgently needed )
● bedding
● hygiene articles : razors , shaving foam / gel , deodorant , toothbrushes , shampoo , shower gel , hairbrushes , pads , tampons , panty liners , wet wipes . Also happily accepted in travel sizes .
What they do not need : blouses , dresses , short skirts , evening wear , suits , dress shirts , fur coats , sandals , dress shoes , fashion accessories , or handbags .
Drop off your donations at Hanseatic Help ( Grosse Elbstrasse 264 in Altona ) on Tuesdays , Thursdays , or Fridays from 10 – 6 and Saturdays from 10 – 4 . Or donate at the following : January 15 , 11 – 7 , at AEZ mall in Poppenbüttel and January 29 , 10-6 , at Kampnagel Cultural Center , Jarresstr . 20 , Winterhude .
-Jennifer L . and Holly T .
We had such a great time , the kids , husband , and I ! We arrived to a greeting from the thoroughly organized and enthusiastic Jennifer L ., who sorted us with registration , hand hygeine , and a locker for our bags , and then we dived into work . From about 2 until 4 p . m ., we sorted and folded kids ’ winter jackets , women ’ s jumpers , and jackets by size . It was a real eye-opener to see how much work it takes to sort all the clothes donations , and how it really is best to give only things of high quality . My kids ( 8 and 12 ) were able to participate easily and felt useful . On the way home , we talked about how good it was to see the other side of things — and what happens to the “ bag of donations ” that gets put together every six months or so at our house . It also made me think about all the people who would miss out on warm , good-quality clothes if Hanseatic Help wasn ’ t around to facilitate this important work . We feel very thankful for finding an accessible and helpful service project for our family to participate in , and we hope to be regular fixtures on the Sunday team !
— Michaela A .

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