Berlin’s Tafel Rescues Six Tons of Food at Green Week Fair

A decade-long tradition turns fairground leftovers into lifelines for Berlin’s most vulnerable. See how volunteers transform waste into hope night after night.

, and Administrator

2026 January 26 . 11:12 AM

1 min read

The image shows an old postcard with a drawing of a bustling city street in Berlin, Germany. There... — The image shows an old postcard with a drawing of a bustling city street in Berlin, Germany. There are buildings, street poles, street lights, horse carts, people, a statue, and a bridge in the background. The sky is filled with clouds and there is text on the postcard.

Berliner Tafel collects six tons of food at Green Week - Berlin’s Tafel Rescues Six Tons of Food at Green Week Fair

Berlin’s Tafel food bank has gathered six tons of surplus food at this year’s Green Week trade fair. Over 330 volunteers worked each evening to collect meals, snacks, and other fairground delicacies. The donations went straight to those in need across the city.

The 10-day event saw more than 2,300 people receive food from the collections. Volunteers packed up stews, sandwiches, bread, sausages, and other leftovers after the fair closed each night. The supplies were then sent to homeless shelters and refugee accommodations.

For nearly 30 years, Green Week has been a key moment for Berlin’s Tafel. Last year, volunteers managed to collect nearly nine tons of food during the same event. This year’s effort was supported by KWB (Kraft-Wärme-Betrieb), which provided additional backing for the local volunteering work.

The six tons of food gathered will help feed vulnerable groups in Berlin. Shelters and refugee centres received fresh supplies throughout the green event. The long-standing partnership between Tafel and Green Week continues to make a difference each year.