Coronavirus - Vortex around gift fences in Munich: "Well-intentioned, badly done"

There have been “gift fences” in Munich since Wednesday: people donate food there, they can take homeless people. However, homeless associations criticize this.

• Because of the corona virus *, there have recently been so-called gift fences in Munich.
• There people can donate food for the homeless .
• However, these are criticized for a major problem.

Munich - There are seven bags of groceries on the railing of the Wittelsbacherbrücke. If the Corona crisis didn't exist, these bags would probably not be there. And the people who put down more bags of apples or watch the whole thing from afar would not be here either. But since Wednesday there has been one of the first gift fences in Munich. The bags are neatly lined up on the bridge. You can see apples, bread and canned goods, but also clothes and dog food.

Munich: "Care Gabenzaun" - call to care for people in need

The words "Care for the fence" and "Two instead of lonely" are written on the notes. Including a call to care for people in need. Friends Susanne Scherr (32) and Lena Höcht (30) are behind the idea. They wanted to help "give something back to society", as they say. "We thought that this was a way to help uncomplicatedly without a lot of organization," says Scherr. They came up with the idea from other cities. Such fences have been around for a long time in Berlin and Hamburg - people hang donations on fences and the homeless take what they need. On Wednesday, the friends set up the first gift fence in Munich . In the evening there were already three.

But there are now serious concerns about the offer. Jörn Scheuermann, managing director of the homeless help group, describes these gift fences as "infection sources" . People frolic in front of it, touch everything and drive to these places instead of staying at home. In addition, the food is not checked as with the blackboard. "Well-intentioned, badly done," says Scheuermann. In addition, there is no lack of donations at all, but rather personnel and the necessary protective clothing for distribution. It is also annoying that false information is spread. "It takes a lot of effort to build trust and to bring homeless people to institutions," says Scheuermann. If they read that shelters were closed, homeless people couldn't just check it out and believe it in the end.

Corona virus: There are already eleven “gift fences” in Munich

By Friday evening there were now eleven fence fences in Munich. Co-initiator Mona Walch (41) said that a group had the same idea and built a website “almost overnight” almost simultaneously. All gift fences are noted there on a card . In this way, social institutions and the needy should also learn about it.

A "gift fence" in Munich.

© Oliver Bodmer

"As a private initiative, we think the campaign is good," says Gerhard Mayer (SPD), head of the Office for Housing and Migration. However, the city would rather rely on structured measures and expand them. The operators of the Münchner Tafel are also pleased about the sympathy for the situation of the homeless. However, it is problematic that some notes on the gift fences give the impression that there is insufficient care for the homeless. For about a week now, groceries on the table have been distributed centrally at the wholesale market hall. The impression that many supply points are closed is not true, the edition was simply postponed. "We have space at the wholesale market hall," said a spokeswoman. You can keep your distances here.

Coronavirus: Not only the food itself could become a problem with “gift fences”

At the request of our newspaper, the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety does not see the problem of gift fences with the donated food. A spokesman said that it is unlikely that the corona virus would be transmitted via food. However, there would be an increased risk if many people came to the fences at the same time. The situation was being monitored and intervention was not an issue as of Friday afternoon.

Just how dynamic the situation is at the moment is also shown when trying to help others. With the website , the team around Walch wants to systematize this actionism, control information centrally and react to criticism. That is why there is now an indication that only durable food is donated and people should keep their distance. In addition, the gift fences will be checked regularly in the future and notes in several languages ​​will be added. Such initiatives are only intended to create an additional offer, Walch emphasizes. Lena Höcht and Susanne Scherr also point out on their notes that they only donate food that can be kept well. Ultimately, they are also concerned with “making people who are otherwise invisible visible.”

Astrid Probst

* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.

The corona virus paralyzes Bavaria - Prime Minister Markus Söder proclaimed the disaster. One death was confirmed in Munich - it is the third in total.