"Just go in to the left and up, someone will explain the rest!" someone kindly said to me when I stood at the door of Hanseatic Help e.V. at exactly 10 a.m., probably the largest clothing donation organization in Hamburg.
Once a year, all employees of the German branch of Société Générale Insurance can take a social day: then we work as volunteers and do something for the community – through which the company sustainably promotes social engagement.
Hanseatic Help e.V. has existed since 2015 – it began with clothing donations under the well-known slogan "Wir schaffen das" (We can do it) and has since developed into a central humanitarian aid organization that relies on hundreds of volunteers.
And how did my workday go?
I immediately found my way around the 2600 sqm hall. Thanks to Jürgen. As a long-time volunteer, he showed me all the areas and the stations where I could work. Motto: Just do it. Whoever is sorting or packing next to you will help you further. And otherwise, there are signs and tips: e.g. that children's sneakers with blinkies are no longer accepted and that safety shoes are mandatory in the hall with the forklifts. Also great: Everyone can get drinks, breakfast, and lunch for free. Donations also come in for that!
Would you gift that to your best friend?
After I had written my name on a crepe strip and stuck it to my t-shirt, I was already part of the team: Emma in the sewing room, Heinrich with the approximately 60 boxes of men's clothing, or Anna, who was sorting in the women's clothing department. Heidi, with the charming Ruhrpott dialect, was packing an order for one of the 3 shops that Hanseatic Help also operates in Hamburg. There, people with a voucher can choose clothes and shop as if in a store, only free of charge. And that is precisely why it is so important that the donations are very neat. The motto when sorting is: Would you give that item to your friend like that? Worn-out collars, holes in sweaters, or light deodorant stains on blouses are then discarded.
The sorted-out items also live on: either as fabrics for the sewing department where they are processed into baby blankets, bags, etc. Or as donations for upcycling projects. What cannot be recycled in Hamburg is transported by truck in sacks to Bethel in Bielefeld: there the deliveries are checked and processed again, and the rest is further processed into useful items. In the end, every item returns to the cycle.
Collecting sleeping bags at festivals
Besides me, many people were on duty that day: regular volunteers, young people in federal volunteer service, interns, some from the employment agency's reintegration program, or the team of a company that spent their social day there cleaning the tents and sleeping bags collected at festivals.
Everything runs like clockwork. There are also some permanent employees – they take care of accounting, HR, marketing, events, logistics, and organization. Around 300 charitable organizations request relief supplies here almost daily, e.g., for crisis areas, for earthquake victims, or for expectant mothers who have nothing for their baby.
Stream of willingness to help does not stop
The extraordinary willingness to get involved at Hanseatic Help continues unabated. This cannot be explained solely by the desire to help, but also by a special social dynamic that arises within the organization. Here, people experience a sense of belonging through meaningful activity and through belonging to a community that is not characterized by competition, origin, education, performance pressure, or rivalry.
The commitment is based on individual freedom: whether one, two, or more days per week – everyone contributes to the extent that suits their own capabilities and needs. Even long commutes of more than an hour and a half do not often stand in the way of participation, as the common task unfolds a unifying force.
Casual, but highly organized
Over time, social relationships and friendships also develop from this form of togetherness. For some people, Hanseatic Help becomes an important place for social participation and belonging. This organization is characterized by the absence of formal constraints: there is neither rigid deadline pressure nor mandatory attendance. Control is replaced by personal responsibility, mutual support, and respectful interaction. It is precisely this culture of trust and appreciation that forms the basis for the sustainable commitment of many participants.
Would you like to get to know a company that works completely differently than you might imagine? Then go there for 1 day. And it's best to bring a homemade cake – everyone will be happy.