By Björn Trautwein and the BZ editorial team
Rieke Tillack (19) worked in the Caritas clothing store for nine months and reveals what great things were given away there and why she is now looking for a successor.
Today my voluntary service ends in the Caritas clothing store. 80 people come here on an average day. Families from the Ukraine, people with little money and many homeless people. For nine months I helped dress them in jackets, trousers, hats and socks. I accepted donations, sorted them and handed them out again. And heard many stories: beautiful ones and sad ones.
After graduating from high school, I didn’t immediately know what I wanted to study and wanted to see what I liked first. I heard about the clothing store in Reinickendorf from a friend and applied to be a federal volunteer. 40 volunteers work there alternately with a full-time manager.
At first I was pretty excited. How should I fit into the team? How is the contact with the needy people? I’m actually rather shy, but here I quickly learned to get involved. For example, I used to be reluctant to use the phone, now it’s easy for me. I’ve also become more patient and have learned to respond to people – even if they are sometimes exhausting.
On average, 80 needy people come to the clothing store at Residenzstraße 90 in Reinickendorf every day. Among them were many families, the homeless and people who had fled to Berlin Photo: Ralf Gunther
We always got a lot of donations during the time I was there. Mostly beautiful and useful things. Coats, shoes, pyjamas, but also crockery and household appliances. To my astonishment, the people also bring a lot of things that I would not dare to do myself: deeply soiled things or completely worn out clothes. Nobody wants to wear something like that.
What moved me, however, was a very special donation. It came from a homeless man whom we often gave clothes or a sleeping bag to in the winter. He was always particularly grateful for everything he got and I talked to him a lot.
Eventually his visits stopped and I started to worry. But a few weeks ago he was suddenly in front of the door again. He looked a lot better than before. He found a place to stay through a porter. He had a bag with him and pulled out a sweater which he gave to me as a donation. He said: “I know how important these things can be, so I would also like to give something away.” This gesture touched me deeply.
My assignment is over, but I will remember a lot. I’ll start my studies in social work in the fall. I have found my calling.
And I would like to take the opportunity to advertise the closet. A successor is currently being sought. Anyone interested now is welcome to get in touch!
The contact person is Dorothea Schellschmidt, Tel. 666 33 1222 or email: [email protected]