Lübeck's train station mission is urgently looking for a new partner for the deposit project!

Lübeck's train station mission is urgently looking for a new partner for the deposit project!

At Lübeck Central Station everything revolves around the social commitment of the Bahnhofsmission and its innovative “Pfandheld” project. Even in August 2025, three years after being initiated by Deutsche Bahn trainees, the can and bottle boxes are in greater demand than ever. Between 500 and 600 bottles end up in the box every week, which can be compared to five to six 120 liter bags. This initiative was not only a benefit for the Bahnhofsmission, but now urgently requires new partnerships, as the previous drinks retailer that took the deposit bottles was closed, as gemeindediakonie-luebeck.de reports.

The head of the station mission, Nadine Hülsenberg, expresses regret about the closure of the market, which played an important role in the project. Uwe Albus, volunteer and project supervisor, emptied the collection box about twice a week and brought the empties to the former partner, where the deposit money was used for the mission's social work. The proceeds go towards purchasing hygiene products, sleeping bags and even Christmas presents, among other things.

The challenge of dispensing bottles

A pressing problem is the lack of space in the station mission, which is caused by bags not being handed in. These take up valuable space that is urgently needed for other important items. Despite these challenges, the project enjoys positive reactions from passers-by, who often also donate money. However, there were also unpleasant situations: In April 2023, the box was broken open and several bottles were stolen. The repair costs amounted to 200 euros, which were raised through donations and support from the station community.

The federal police have already identified two suspects who were identified as travelers. Uwe Albus hopes that they will get socially involved as part of a perpetrator-victim reconciliation.

Help from BahnBonus

Particularly worth mentioning is the support from the BahnBonus initiative, which finances remarkable projects like this. Among other things, over 13,000 euros were collected for projects to promote mobility for people with disabilities, as can be read on bahn.de. This shows how important the Bahnhofsmission's social commitment is to the community.

The Bahnhofsmission remains optimistic and hopes for new partners who are willing to continue the initiative. “We are constantly looking for ideas and support for our deposit project,” emphasizes Nadine Hülsenberg. Uwe Albus also wants to continue to be involved in the project. Interested beverage retailers can contact the Bahnhofsmission by phone or email.

Anyone who would like to make a contribution now has the chance to become part of this meaningful and helpful project. There’s something going on – let’s tackle it!