Charity shops and clothes recyling bins

Are there any charity shops in Munich? I've never seen any.

I'm talking about the kind you see in most High Streets in the UK, like Oxfam, The Red Cross, Marie Curie Cancer Research, Barnados, etc.

Crosslinks by admin: Used clothing bins, Charity shops

No such thing Malc! There are a few shops that sell second hand clothes, but nothing even vaguely similar to a charity shop. My house occassionally has clothes collection sacks dumped in the hallway, and I've also seen clothes and shoes bins, but I have no idea what actually becomes of stuff that gets dropped in them.


"Gebrauchtkleidung" - A clothes bin

If you're looking to donate some old clothes or something, there's a place near Hauptbahnhof (Hirtenstr I think) which accepts donations. I think it's a branch of Caritas, but I'm not sure. They're not really a shop as such. Ouside of that I don't know.

Third world shops 'Dritteweltladen' in Germany would be the local equivalent of Oxfam.

You could try the International Women's Club, Munich.

Next month they are hosting their very first "White Elephant Sale" to raise funds for the Frauenhaus (a shelter for battered women and their children). They are looking for good quality books, magazines, household or decorative items - unwanted gifts and so on!

What they do have are big clothes banks (Gebrauchtkleidung), like the Oxfam ones in supermarket carparks and stuff in the UK. They are generally just at the side of the street, like bottle banks. I don't know exactly what they do with the clothes, but they specifically ask you to put them in plastic bags so they won't get wet, so I presume they at least use the material...

The clothes from these bins (Red cross) are sorted into what can be used again and the rest is recycled. All clothes should be washed and ironed and shoes bound together in pairs. Or so they tell me at the chapel.
Where we live, Caritas (Catholic organisation), collect on a regular basis for clothing and household items; not to mention money! Other than that, charity seams to begin at home?

You will often get leaflets doing old clothes collections in Munich, plus of course there are the Red Cross collecting Bins.

I would advise you NOT to donate here!

The first choice is sold off to second hand shops in Germany (ever noticed how Pats and Co never buy stuff?)

The second choice is sold in shops in (say) Romania where you can buy second hand western European clothes by the kilo.

The third choice is sold on 3rd World markets.

The fouth choice is "donated" ie dumped in the 3rd World.

Options 3+4 naturally destroy indigenous textile industries.

---------------

Weisse Rabe is a charity shop in Landsbergerstrasse that has a special focus on those with low incomes - back in the day, plenty of Toytowners fitted out their first shared scabby flats from there!

Also there's a "Diakonie" (Evangelical Church so not quite as well known as the Red Cross & Co for sniffing your donations off a hooker's tits) shop on Landshuter Allee and their focus is on the homeless etc.

Both these shops would be glad of your stuff.

Hi
and don't forget to look at this topic: Designer Secondhand Clothes about the new Kleidsam.
Katrina

The place in Hauptbahnhof mentioned by keydeck is called the Banhofs Mission, I think, where you can also donate food and drink which is dispensed among the -mostly invisible- local homeless (we took a big basket of Brezen over after a big university do, and they were happy to have them).

I've just seen an Oxfam (yep, the real thing) up in Potsdam, which I hope means we might be getting a Münchner outlet sooner rather than later.

Anyone know where I can donate some old clothes?

I've been keeping my eyes open for some of those big ol' bins that you can normally find outside of Kmart or on random street corners, but I guess Germans really aren't like New Jersians...

Just got some shirts, sweaters, and socks to donate.

Any tips?

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They do have bins about, it's just a matter of finding them or knowing where they are.

The Bins are large, and usually Tan in color...

I think I saw some on the street that runs from "The Cinema" towards
Circus Krone..

Rot-Kreuz-Betriebe, Altkleidersammlung
Seitzstr. 8, 80538 München

Tel: 089/ 2373-257
Ansprechpartner: Herr Glamm

MVV: U4 / U5 Lehel

Please look at post 8!

I know that there are some places that sell used kids clothes run by charities like Nachbarschaftshilfe. If anyone is interested in adresses I'd make the effort and try to find some.

Here's a list of the current 135 clothes bins from the Bavarian Red Cross. Note that these bins are regularly moved which means in a years time there is no guarantee how accurate the list will be.

List received via e-mail from brk-muenchen.de

		Aufstellorte der Kleidercontainer
	Datum:	12/30/2004
Nr.	Ort	Straße	Bezeichnung
196	Allach	Oertelplatz 4	S-Bahnhof
2166	Aubing	Bergsonstr. 115	Flohmarkt
2167	Aubing	Bergsonstr. 115	Flohmarkt
734	Aying	Am Bahnhof
430	Berg am Laim	Annabrunnerstr.
212	Berg am Laim	Hachinger Bachstr.25	Michaeli Gymnasium
154	Blumenau	Blumenauerstr.11	Volksschule
139	Bogenhausen	Buschingstr.47	neben Glascontainer
138	Bogenhausen	Buschingstr.26	am Trafohaus
140	Bogenhausen	Stuntzstr.17	neben Depotcontainer
2002	Bogenhausen	Stuntzstr.17
176	Deisenhofen	Grünwalderweg 66	RKH
1988	Deisenhofen	Grünwalderweg 66
415	Denning	Dalgenfingerstr.5	HL-Markt
133	Fasanerie	Schnepfenweg/Pappelallee
178	Feldkirchen	Kapellenstr.	am Wertstoffcont.
1986	Feldkirchen	Kapellenstr.	am Wertstoffcont.
426	Freimann	Lützelsteinerstr. 1a	Allianzversich.
208	Gern	Reinmarplatz 12	W.-Lübke Haus
141	Giesing	Konradinstr.28	RKB
429	Giesing	St.Martinstr.60	Allianzversicherung
180	Großdingharting	Gemeindefriedhof	am Glascontainer
181	Grünwald	Torbruckstr.	Wertstoffhof
1913	Grünwald	Torbruckstr.	Wertstoffhof
2081	Grünwald	Torbruckstr.	Wertstoffhof
2087	Grünwald	Torbruckstr.	Wertstoffhof
423	Haar	Waldstr.9
143	Haidhausen	Balanstr.52	PPL V-Markt
2003	Haidhausen	Balanstr.52
316	Harthof	Weyprechtstr.2	Rewe/Penny Markt
317	Hasenbergl	Fortnerstr.39	Penny-Markt
183	Heimstetten	Hauptstr.	Wertstoffcontainer
1984	Heimstetten	Hauptstr.
1985	Heimstetten	Hauptstr.
150	Kieferngarten	Bauernfeindstr.15	RK-Seniorenheim
195	Kieferngarten	Kögelsbergerstr.23	Postamt 454
1970	Kieferngarten	Kögelsbergerstr.23
186	Kirchheim	Florianstr.	Bauhof
185	Kirchheim	Ludwigstr.	Wertstoffcontainer
1983	Kirchheim	Ludwigstr.
156	Kleinhadern	Gelbhofstr.14	KATRA-SM
2151	Kleinhadern	Gelbhofstr.14
451	Kreuzhof	Kistlerhofstr.	Mimimal
452	Mittersendling	Albert-Roßhaupterstr.105	MAHAG-Autohaus
129	Moosach	Am Neubruch 23	Containerplatz
1999	Moosach	Nanga-Parbat-Str.67
482	Moosach	Parkharfe Block 5	Olympiazentrum
520	Moosach	Parkharfe Block 2	Olympiazentrum
158	Neuaubing	Wiesentfelser Str.70	Stadtsparkasse
1979	Neuaubing	Wiesentfelser Str.70	Stadtsparkasse
1980	Neuaubing	Wiesentfelser Str.70	Stadtsparkasse
438	Neuhadern	Gräfelfingerstr.66
437	Neuhadern	Guardinistr.44
142	Neuperlach	Max Reinhard Weg 25	H.-Heine Gymnasium
1977	Neuperlach	Max Reinhard Weg 25	H.-Heine Gymnasium
175	Neuperlach	Max Reinhard Weg 25	H.-Heine Gymnasium
146	Neuperlach	Max Reinhard Weg 25	H.-Heine Gymnasium
639	Neuperlach	Schuhmacherring 26	Rotkreuzhaus
161	Neuried	Ammerseestr. Haus 2/4	Wertstoffcontainer
418	Neuried	Dr.Rehm Str.	Grünanlage
162	Neuried	Ettalerstr.
419	Neuried	Forstenrieder Str.	Tankstelle
163	Neuried	Gautinger Str.	Wertstoffcontainer
160	Neuried	Haderner Winkel	Wertstoffcontainer
	Neuried	Kraillinger Weg/ z.Z. Ettaler Str.	Wertstoffcontainer
988	Neuried	Lindenstr.	Wertstoffcontainer
164	Neuried	Starnberger Str.	Wertstoffcontainer
518	Oberföhring	Franz-Wolter Str.
131	Obermenzing	Verdi Str. 98	Kreissparkasse
189	Oberschleißheim	Eigenheim Str.1	BRK-Haus
170	Obersendling	Zielstatt Str.74	Hauptschule
442	Ottobrunn	Ottobrunner Str.	DASA
167	Pasing	Am Stadtpark 21	Karlsgymnasium
372	Pasing	Ebenböck Str.27
168	Pasing	Georg Habel Str.49	Wertstoffplatz
417	Pasing	Landsberger Str.394-396
166	Pasing	Th.Storm Str.12	BRK-Haus
169	Planegg	Germeringer Str.8a	BRK-Haus
144	Ramersdorf	Rosenheimer Str.126	Altenheim,St Maria
134	Schwabing	Ackermann Str./Sp.Louis Ring	Parkplatz
539	Schwabing	Biedersteiner Str.29	Dermatolog. Klinik
125	Schwabing	Freystr.	PP Münchner Freiheit
127	Schwabing	Lerchenauer Str.	PP Eissportstadion
638	Schwabing	Prinzregenten Str.	PP Haus der Kunst
424	Schwabing	Rossini Str.	im Hof
123	Schwabing	Rümann Str.60	Altenheim
2168	Sendling	Siegenburger Str. 65	PPL
2169	Sendling	Siegenburger Str. 65	PPL
192	Strasslach	Frankenstrasse	Containerplatz Feuerwehr
1152	Strasslach	Frankenstrasse	Containerplatz Feuerwehr
374	Thalkirchen	Alemannenstr.	Parkplatz
373	Thalkirchen	Maria Einsiedel Str.	BRK-Parkplatz
427	Thalkirchen	Schönstr.81
440	Unterhaching	Münchner Str.16	Rotkreuzhaus
1981	Unterhaching	Münchner Str.16
1982	Unterhaching	Münchner Str.16
130	Untermenzing	Haldenberger Str.27	Hauptschule
194	Unterschleißheim	Carl von Linde Str.32	Parkplatz
483	Unterschleißheim	Hollener/Ingoldstätter Str.	Hotel Alarun
191	Untersendling	Friedrich Hebbel Str.12
435	Untersendling	Heiterwanger Str.48-56
320	Untersendling	Johann Clanze Str.70
436	Untersendling	Klingerstr. 25
1181	Zentrum	Dachauer Str.2	Parkplatz
174	Zentrum	Hansastr.	Parkplatz

I'm moving and also cleaning out stuff. But I have no idea where to take old clothes and items that I don't use/need anymore. Would hate to just dump stuff. Does anyone know? Thanks.

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Usually near the recycle bins for bottles there is a tan bin for clothes and shoes.

There's alway loads of Red Cross containers all over the place where you can put them in to

Went looking for these recently around the Westend/Laim area. Any that used to be there (Bergmannstr for example) are gone now.

I thought the Twisted was having another yard sale on the 9th as well, but the post is in archive now, so who knows...

Charity shops and old clothing donations in Munich

try the innere mission, they take clean, good condition clothes and household goods.

could always donate it to the pigeon-homeless lady at Marienplatz...

TwiBa yard sale in the calendar

My husband has a huge bag of clothing- especially shoes- that he doesn't wear anymore. It's all high end stuff in really great condition and was rather expensive, so I would like to try to sell it second hand. Do they do that here? I haven't seen much in the way of second hand anything in Munich. Suggestions??? (besides Ebay)

Topics merged by admin

I managed to shrink my nice new woolly jumper over the weekend so it's now several sizes too small (it was L to begin with). It's still almost new though and I would like it to keep someone warm. Is there anywhere I can take it where it will be worn again? What happens to the stuff in the clothes recycling boxes?

This is what happens to the Red Cross donations: (see Grtho's earlier post for the English)
Altkleidersammlung
Wir sammeln gut erhaltene Kleidungsstücke, die in einer eigenen Kleiderkammer direkt an Menschen in Not in Stadt und Landkreis München verteilt werden.

Für die Hilfe in Katastrophen- und Kriegsfällen wird ein Katastrophenschutzlager unterhalten. Große Mengen gut erhaltener Kleidung stehen so bereit um die schlimmste Not in Krisengebieten zu lindern.

Einen Teil der Altkleider verwerten wir kommerziell, um mit dem Erlös die sozialen und humanitären Aufgaben des Kreisverbandes zu unterstützen.

Up-to-date list (June 05) of where all the containers in Munich are:
http://www.brk-muenchen.de/dokumente/rkb/a...ntainerorte.pdf

Just been referred to a charity called THW (Technisches Hilfwerk) who help out in disasters: http://www.thw.de/english/

Excerpt from 'About Us': THW (Technisches Hilfswerk) is the Governmental disaster relief organizationof the Federal Republic of Germany. Its statutory tasks include the provision oftechnical assistance at home and humanitarian aid abroad.

all I need now is for someone to come to my home and sort through my things. I know I have a lot to get rid of before I move, but it's all mixed in and I'm just dreading the task...

I never heard anything back from THW (how rude!) so will just donate to Red Cross I think, as I've had 8 bags of clothes under my bed, on the cupboard, behind the sofa for about a year now.

The THW is not a charity, it is a government agency. It does not collect clothes or other donations (at least not usually). I was involved with them for 10 years (though it's been quite a while), and the stuff they do is technical assistance (as the name suggests): Engineering work of all sorts, pumping&draining, restoring energy&water supplies, rebuilding infrastructure, rescue operations, etc.

Hello!

I am looking for a charity organisation to give away old clothes, books, house items etc.
Any help will be appreciated!

Olga

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Weisse Rabe in Landsberger strasse, Innere Misison on Landshuter Allee.

Innere Mission site.

you can't access that pdf via UAs link, but I got to it like this:

http://www.brk-muenchen.de/rkbdienstleistungen/altkleider --> Information --> "Standplätze - Kleidercontainer"
they updated the list on Jan 20, 06.

was very helpful cause i don't have a car & have been wanting to get ride of some old clothes since i mvoed 8 months ago! th

Hi,

Does anyone know of drop boxes for clothes in Munich (I live near Silberhornstrasse). Please kindly PM me if you do. I've viewed the donations link here at Toytown and didn't seem to help much. I've been looking out for the side-of-the-street donation points but haven't found any.

I also called CARITAS and they were so snotty about the whole thing. First, I have to take it in someplace only on 2 days of the week between this time and that time. oh, but then the person in charge is probably still on vacation and I have to keep calling until I get her and make sure she'll be there before I go over. And oh, again, I must make sure they are very good clothes because they don't take ratty clothes. Unglaublich. Give me Salvation Army anyday. Of course I have nice stuff and even 2 old luggages to boot. But they don't seem to need donations that badly.

So if anyone knows people who need old clothes, a donation spot, or an organizatoin that might be a bit more grateful to have clothes for the needy, please PM me. I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

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Bavarian Red Cross has big bins, usually near the bottle banks.
There's one at Wettersteinplatz.

Here a list (pdf) with all the Red Cross bins:
Bavarian Red Cross Clothes Donation Bins

Thanks Saz. This helps. Wettersteinplz is also not far from me

Hi all,

moving house this week I've sorted through stuff and put together around 3 big bags full of clothes I'd like to bring to some 2nd hand store (I know I could always try and sell it off myself but figured dropping it off at one place at one go would save me a lot of time)...does anyone know of a place (store) I could bring it to?

Thanx!
Sophia.

Topics merged by admin

I was wondering this too because I called Kleidermarkt (im Tal) to ask them if they bought clothes and they said no. Where do they get all their second-hand stuff from?

They are at the top of the 2nd hand clothes industry.
Well 2nd place now that H+M are on the case too.

It's been said before how it works but here's how it goes:

You put out a bag of clothes or put them in the container and they are sorted.

The BEST ones are SOLD to H+M, then the places like in Tal.
These clothes go on sale at VASTLY overpriced levels, you can get new stuff cheaper than second hand.

The 2nd best clothes are SOLD to parts of eastern Europe, Romania is the example I know, where clothes are sold by weight in shops.

The 3rd grade clothes are SOLD end up in shops and on markets in Africa where arguably they undercut domestic textile production.

People I know who work for charities say they are about maximising their revenue for their charitable purpose and this is the best way to do so.
I think it is more than a little dodgy.

I saw one of those beige clothes bins the other day near me, and the sign on it said that the best clothes are sent to 3rd world countries, the not so good ones are sold to finance the transport/shipping of the clothes. I'll try to take a photo of it next time I see it.

If you look at the UK, where it is is slightly more open and fine tunes andthere is more of a modern tradition of charity shops you can see that the charities have actually openend "hi end" charity stores to sell off the best stuff.

Now and again an Armani sui or a Lacroix dress or whatever does ge donated into the system.
the charities give that to a destitute Tsunami victim rather than flogging it off for a heap of money?
Yeah right!

That's fucked up. What is their charitable purpose? Isn't part of the charity giving away the clothes for free?

Friends and aquaintances of mine who work in the charity "industry" in the UK say something like:

"The whole point of Charity X is to do work specified in our charter. If the BEST way to finance the work we are set up to do is to sell donated clothes onto commerical interests then so be it".

What I think is really messed up here (compared to the UK) is that charities here generally don't run their own stores. I'd rather see them getting the maximum for their donated clothes themselves than giving a cut to a store like H+M who then sell "retro" t-shirts at € 20 each!

The UK has so taken to charity shops that as I mentioned some of the charities operate "premium stores".
Perhaps Germans think its trendy to go to Pats and buy second hand stuff but not from a charity shop though the source is the same... ???

What annoys me is that a pair of baggy jeans which might not look that nice are worth a lot more than the €5 you'd get for them in a 2nd hand shop, to someone living in cold conditions.

hmm. Not saying the US is any better because I don't really know how it works, but I've sold cothes to a trendy second-hand shop and donated the rest they couldn't sell to this store called Savers and to the Salvation Army- instead of getting cash you get a tax break. At those last two places they sell everything for a shiny little penny- super cheap.

I like that method a lot better. At second-hand shops you can pay a bit more to get "vintage" stuff that is a treasure to some, but they also have the charity shops for people who really need it.