What is a clothes depot (Kleiderkammer) and where can I find one?

In some types of accommodation there are clothes depots (Kleiderkammern). There you can receive well looked-after clothing and shoes donated by Hamburg residents – free of charge. If there is no clothes depot at your accommodation or you need more clothes, various other clothes depots can be found at other locations around Hamburg. Some clothes depots have special opening hours only for women and children.

Many depots (Kleiderkammern) are currently closed due to the corona virus.

  • Kleiderkiste Altona-Nord
    Please bring proof that you do not receive much money (for example your proof of social assistance (Sozialhilfenachweis), your certificate of housing benefit (Wohngeldbescheinigung), your benefits entitlement (Leistungsbescheid) or your wage statement). Eppendorfer Weg 27, Monday 2 pm to 6 pm, Tuesday 10 am to 2 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 10 am – 6 pm, https://www.skf-altona.de/index.php/die-kleiderkiste/erreichbarkeit
  • Kleiderkammer Gemeinde Schiffbek
    Here, you can buy clothes at a low price. Billstedter Hauptstraße 86, Monday and Tuesday 10 am – 1 pm, Thursday 10 am – 2 pm, Friday 10 am to 1 pm, https://www.doppelfisch.de/angebote/beratung-unterstützung/
    In some cases, it is possible to make an individual appointment: Appointment: +49 17652450680.
  • Umsonstladen Altona (For-free shop)
    Not only can you find clothes here but also books or toys. Bodenstedtstraße 16, Monday 4 pm – 6 pm, Tuesday 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Wednesday 4 pm – 7 pm, Friday 10:30 am – 4 pm, Saturday 10 am – 12:30 pm, https://www.ak-loek.de/umsonstladen/
  • Kleiderkammer Don Alfonso (Alimaus)
    Nobistor 34, Wednesday and Saturday 2 pm – 4 pm, https://alimaus.de/bekleidung/; additional opening hours for Ukrainian refugees (ID required): Tuesday, 1 pm – 4 pm.
  • Umsonstladen Haakestraße, Haakestraße 22, Tuesday and Wednesday 10 am – 12 pm (noon) and 4 pm – 6 pm, Thursday 10 am – 12 pm (noon) and Friday 4 pm – 6 pm, https://www.umsonstladen-harburg.de/
Which low budget community stores (Sozialkaufhäuser) are there?

In low budget community stores people can buy used clothes, toys, books and furniture without spending a lot. The prices are low. To shop at these stores, you must bring proof that you do not receive much money (for example our proof of social assistance (Sozialhilfenachweis), your certificate of housing benefit (Wohngeldbescheinigung), your benefits entitlement (Leistungsbescheid) or your wage statement). Please ask at each store directly to find out more about how to shop there. Sometimes it is necessary to bring a customer card. You can receive these at the store.

  • SpendaBel Nord, Fuhlsbütteler Straße 416, Monday to Friday 9 am – 4 pm.
  • SpendaBel St. Pauli
    Detlev-Bremer-Str. 13, Monday to Friday 10 am – 3:45 pm
  • SpendaBel Billstedt
    Gundermannstraße 8, Monday to Friday 10 am – 6 pm
  • SpendaBel Wilhelmsburg
    Am Veringhof 15, Monday to Friday 8 am – 3:45 pm
  • Sozialkaufhaus Bezahlbar Barmbek
    Habichtstraße 126, Monday to Friday 10 am – 3 pm
  • Hope’s House / Hope’s Boutique, Maimoorweg 62, Wednesday 8:30 am – 3:30 pm.
  • Sozialkaufhaus Warengut
    Altona Borselstraße 3, Monday to Friday 9:30 am – 5:30 pm; http://warengut-grone.de/3077,Home.html
  • MöbelBergedorf
    Osterrade 1, Monday to Friday 9 am – 3:30 pm; https://sprungbrett-hh.de/03-mb/.
  • Petri und Pauli Laden
    Bergedorfer Schloßstraße 9, Monday 10 am – 12 pm, Tuesday and Thursday 1 pm – 5 pm, https://stpetriundpauli-bergedorf.de/joomla3/petri-und-pauli-laden.

Other similar stores:  https://www.hamburg.de/sozialkaufhaeuser/

There are IT community stores (IT-Sozialkaufhäuser) as well. Here, you can find cheap PCs or laptops:

  • Nutzmüll, Am Stadtrand 27 (+49 40 734 352 37) und Boschstraße 15b (+49 40 890 6630), Monday to Friday 8 am – 2:30 pm, https://www.nutzmuell.de/

Write an e-mail or call to inform the store how many computers or laptops you or your family need. The store will send you one or several offers which you can accept or decline. Afterwards, you can collect the computers or laptops in the store.

You must give proof that you do not receive much money (for example your benefits entitlement (Leistungsbescheid) or your wage statement). You may either attach this to your e-mail or show it at the store.

What are food banks (Tafeln) and wehre can I find one?

Food banks provide free or affordable food to those in need. There are several distribution points in Hamburg. Following presentation of proof that you do not receive much money (for example your benefits entitlement (Leistungsbescheid) or your wage statement) and registration you will receive food at these locations.

  • Herz AS
    Norderstraße 50, +49 40 232622, meals served Tuesday and Thursday, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm.
  • Borsteler Tisch
    Borsteler Chaussee 23, +49 40 51431412, Wednesday 1 pm– 3 pm Please note: € 1 per meal! Only for people living in the city districs Alsterdorf, Eppendorf, Fuhlsbüttel,Groß Borstel and Niendorf. New customers are not always accepted.
  • CaFée mit Herz
    Seewartenstraße 10, +49 40 31790261, Monday to Friday 7 am – 10 am and 2 pm – 5 pm, Saturday 1 pm – 3 pm

A list of other distribution points can be found here:  https://www.hamburg.de/beratung-hilfen/3120336/essensausgabestellen/ and  https://hamburger-tafel.de/was-wir-tun/hilfseinrichtungen/ and Essensausgabe Obdachlose Hamburg – hamburg.de

What are some supermarkets and discount stores in Hamburg?

In supermarkets, you will mainly find food but also other products necessary for everyday life. Popular stores are for example: Edeka, Rewe, Real or Kaufland.

Discount stores are similar to supermarkets but usually a bit cheaper. Common store brands are for example Lidl, Aldi, Penny and Netto.

You can find prescription-free remedies, cosmetic products and items for house and garden in drugstores like dm, Rossmann and Budni. 

Of course, there are other supermarkets, discount stores and drugstores that we have not mentioned here. Additionally, you can find food on markets and in small stores. Shopping there is often a bit more expensive though.

Further shopping opportunities for Ukrainian refugees

There are various programmes and initiatives in Hamburg that help Ukrainian refugees with shopping:

  • Clothing and other goods (hygiene articles):  Hanseatic Help Stores
    In these shops you can get clothes and hygiene articles free of charge. You can choose the clothes yourself and try them on in the shop. There are three shops in Hamburg. You can find more information here: https://www.helpstore.de. You can select your language at the top right to have the page translated.

Please make an appointment: https://www.helpstore.de/terminbuchung/
Bring proof that you receive little money (e.g. benefit notice (Leistungsbescheid) or proof of salary).

  • Food: Hamburger Tafel distribution centre, Schimmelstraße 123, Wednesday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    Hamburger Tafel offers a food distribution centre for Ukrainian refugees. All basic food items can be purchased there at a favourable price.

Last updated: 01.08.2024