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Berlin Volunteers Inspect Thousands of Shoebox Gifts Through Dec. 13

The operation functions as the central hub for German‑language donations to keep shipments moving under strict customs rules.

Overview

  • About 3,500 volunteers are opening and checking thousands of gift boxes daily at the Berlin workshop until December 13.
  • Every box is inspected, with prohibited or used items removed and replaced to meet import requirements and prevent shipment stoppages.
  • Berlin handles the vast majority of boxes from the German‑speaking region, with only a few smaller sites in Thuringia, Baden‑Württemberg and Austria.
  • Most gifts from Germany go to Eastern Europe with some to Ghana, online‑ordered boxes go to West Africa, and local partners distribute deliveries into February.
  • Roughly 4,000 temporary drop‑off points have closed so late donations must be mailed directly to Berlin, and the city’s mayor and education senator plan a visit today.