Overview
- Berlin’s governing mayor Kai Wegner and Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch visited the Christmas workshop on Monday to recognize the effort.
- Roughly 3,500 volunteers are inspecting thousands of gift boxes in Berlin through December 13.
- After the collection week, about 4,000 drop-off points closed, so donors now must send shoeboxes directly to the Berlin workshop.
- Every box is opened for inspection, with prohibited or used items removed and replaced to ensure shipments comply with import rules.
- Most Germany-sourced packages are bound for Eastern Europe with some to Ghana, while online-ordered boxes go to West Africa, and local partners distribute gifts into February.