Clothes depots (Kleiderkammern)

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.

  • Kleiderkammer Gemeinde Schiffbek
    Here, you can buy clothes at a low price. Billstedter Hauptstraße 86, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10 am – 1 pm, https://www.doppelfisch.de/angebote/beratung-unterstützung/
    In some cases, it is possible to make an individual appointment: Rainer Picker, Tel.: +49 40 71403200.
  • 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, every 4th Monday of the month 10 am to 12 pm women-only, https://www.ak-loek.de/umsonstladen/
  • Kleiderkammer Don Alfonso (Alimaus)
    Nobistor 34, Wednesday 4 pm – 6 pm, Saturday 2 pm – 4 pm, https://www.alimaus.de/docs/148916/die-kleiderkammer.aspx
  • 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/
Low budget community stores (Sozialkaufhäuser)

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 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.

Many stores are currently closed due to the corona virus.

  • SpendaBel Nord, Fuhlsbütteler Straße 416, Monday to Friday 10 am – 4:45 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 – 4:45 pm
  • SpendaBel Wilhelmsburg
    Am Veringhof 15, Monday to Friday 10 am – 3:45 pm
  • Sozialkaufhaus Bezahlbar Barmbek
    Habichtstraße 126, Monday to Friday 10 am – 6 pm
  • Sozialkaufhaus „KapHornKids”
    Horner Landstrasse 140, Monday to Friday 8 am – 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm – 5 pm
  • Hope’s House / Hope’s Boutique, Maimoorweg 62, Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
  • Sozialkaufhaus Warengut
    Altona Borselstraße 3, Monday to Friday 9:30 am – 5:30 pm; http://warengut-grone.de/3077,Home.html
  • MöbelBergedorf
    Brookkehre 32, Monday to Friday 8 am – 4 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:

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.

Food banks (Tafeln)

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. The food banks are open despite the corona pandemic.

  • Herz AS
    Norderstraße 50, +49 40 232622, meals served Monday to Friday 2:30 pm
  • Mission
    Neustädter Straße 31b, +49 40 280514662, Tuesday to Sunday 3 pm – 10 pm
  • Borsteler Tisch
    Borsteler Chaussee 23, +49 40 51431420, Wednesday 1 pm– 3 pm Please note: € 1 per meal! Only for people living in Folgeunterkünften (secondary accommodation) in Groß Borstel and the surrounding area
  • CaFée mit Herz
    Seewartenstraße 10, +49 40 31790260, Monday to Friday 7 am – 10 am and 2 pm – 5 pm, Saturday 7 am – 10 am

Food banks provide free or affordable food to those in need. There are several distribution points in Hamburg. Following presentation of proof of your asylum seeker status (e.g. your Bescheid für Asylsuchende (certificate of asylum seeker status)) and registration you will receive food at these locations.

  • Mobile Bullysuppenküche e.V.
    Tuesdays: Altonaer Theater, Museumsstraße 17, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Sundays every 2 weeks: in front of Saturn in the Mönckebergstraße 2 pm – 4 pm and in Capello Trinitatishauptkirche Altona, Königsstraße 11, 5 pm – 7 pm.
    You can find information about current dates and times here: https://mobilebullysuppenkueche.de/verteilungen/
  • ASB Sattmacher-Mobil
    Monday: Holstenkamp 119, 2 pm. Thursday: Friedenskirche Altona (Otzenstraße 19), 2 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/.

Cheap food in supermarkets and discount stores

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 storesShopping 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: 01.01.2023