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Josef's Little Shop: Help Without Handouts
For many people, the Josefslädchen in Bamberg is much more than just a food distribution center. Here, people shop just like in a regular store—with a variety of choices, the freedom to make their own decisions, and, above all, with dignity. To ensure this remains possible, the Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung is supporting Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung purchase of a new refrigerated truck. www.raps-stiftung.de
“When I fill up my backpack and pay 15 or 16 euros for it, that’s worth its weight in gold to me,” says Toni. The 73-year-old is a regular at the Josefslädchen. He worked for 49 years—first as a plumber, then, after retraining, as a roofer. Today, he has to get by on a small pension. “My rent has gone up twice in the last two years,” he says. When he first moved into his apartment, he was paying 510 Deutschmarks; today, the rent is 730 euros plus utilities. “It’s tight, but I manage,” he says and laughs, because Toni is just a cheerful soul. He shops at the Josefslädchen every two weeks, “and if I still have enough at home, I’ll go later.”
Nadi is also a customer at Josefslädchen. Before retiring, the 76-year-old worked as a cleaning lady. “We’re glad the shop exists,” she says. It’s especially important to her that she can choose for herself what she needs: milk, butter, vegetables, flour, or sugar. “Here, I take what I need.” And that’s exactly what makes the difference: no pre-packed boxes, no predetermined food items—just shopping like in any other store.
“We don’t want anything handed to us on a silver platter”
“That’s also in line with the core philosophy of the Josefslädchen,” explains Volker Göbel, executive director of the Regional Caritas Association of Bamberg-Forchheim. “We don’t want people to feel like they’re receiving charity. Shopping with us isn’t charity—it’s just heavily subsidized.” This has to do with dignity. Toni and Nadi can only nod in agreement: “After all, we don’t want anything handed to us for free!” they say in unison.
Over 400 customers take advantage of the Josefslädchen’s services. The store is open Monday through Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., and customers can shop there every two weeks. About 30 people come to shop every day. To ensure that everything runs smoothly, it takes a lot of organization—and, above all, volunteer dedication. About 35 volunteers keep the operation running. They sort food, check goods, organize schedules, or drive the refrigerated trucks.
A great deal of coordination is also required on the organizational side. Customers sign up by phone on Monday and are assigned fixed shopping times that rotate regularly. This is intended to ensure that everyone has a chance to access a wider selection at some point. Volker Göbel explains that even the way products are displayed takes customer needs into account. “We offer individuality and cater to different cultures.” For example, sausage products are offered separately by pork and poultry, and there is also a vegan “section.”
Extensive logistics behind the scenes
Volunteer Ingeborg Lauch has seen firsthand just how much work goes on behind the scenes for more than ten years. “We never know what supplies are coming in or how much,” she says. There are frequent shortages, especially when it comes to staple foods. “Sometimes there’s no butter for weeks, or, like today, only five liters of milk—that’s not much when 30 people come in every day.”
The volunteers sort and clean the fruits and vegetables, wash them, and inspect them. Food that can no longer be used is donated to places like a horse farm. “We don’t want to give away low-quality produce,” says Volker Göbel.
Most volunteers work once a week. “You can help out for a full day or half a day,” says Ingeborg Lauch. She notes that it can be tiring at times, but working with the customers is also very enjoyable. “I always go home feeling satisfied after my shifts, because it’s meaningful work.”
One of these volunteers is Ben, who is surprised by how much food is thrown away every day. The 17-year-old is currently doing a four-week student internship at Josefslädchen and helps out with the delivery service, among other things. “I’ve already become more aware in this short time,” he says. “My relationship with food has changed.” For the team at Josefslädchen, this is precisely what matters: The work not only provides tangible help to people, but it also changes perspectives on food, poverty, and social cohesion.
We can't do without refrigerated trucks
To ensure that food can be transported safely, Josefslädchen relies on properly functioning refrigerated vehicles. Two vehicles are currently in use, and most of the drivers are volunteers. “The refrigeration units make the vehicles expensive, but they are necessary to maintain the cold chain,” explains Göbel.
The smaller of the two vehicles now needed to be replaced, and a new purchase was Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung thanks to a donation from the Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung . “Without this support, it would have been very difficult,” says Göbel. But the challenges remain significant. The larger vehicle will also need to be replaced in the next one to two years, with costs currently estimated at 60,000 to 70,000 euros—and the Josefslädchen is financed exclusively through funds from the diocese and donations.
To ensure it can continue to provide reliable assistance in the future, the organization therefore continues to rely on support—whether in the form of volunteer work, donations of non-perishable food, or financial aid. Items such as pasta, rice, flour, and sugar are particularly in short supply because they are less likely to be left over in stores. At the same time, we need people to help sort goods, assist with organization, or drive the refrigerated trucks. In addition, financial donations help keep logistics running, allow us to purchase additional food in emergencies, or even finance a new refrigerated truck.
Donations to the Josefslädchen can be made through the Regional Caritas Association of Bamberg-Forchheim, Inc. It is important to specify the purpose of the donation.
Account holder: Regional Caritas Association of Bamberg-Forchheim, Inc.
Bank account information for the Josefslädchen organization:
IBAN: DE79 7509 0300 0209 0045 05
BIC: GENODEF1M05
Payment reference: Josefslädchen
For more information about Josefslädchen, visit: https://caritas-bamberg-forchheim.de/ich-suche-hilfe/weitere-soziale-hilfe/lebensmittel/index.html
