Advent
Christmas parcels for children in Eastern Europe: how to join the convoy
A shoebox, a toy, a toothbrush and a few nice things: that is how a parcel becomes a Christmas present for a child in Eastern Europe. Here is what goes in, where to drop it off in Berlin and when the convoy sets off.
By mid-November drop off parcels at a collection point
5 to 12 December 2026 the convoy rolls to Eastern Europe
About 3 euros per parcel is the transport cost, according to the organisers
Over 150,000 children receive a present this way each year, according to the organisers
What the Christmas parcel convoy is
Since 2001, the Christmas parcel convoy of the Round Table Germany Foundation has been bringing presents to children in Eastern Europe, organised by volunteers. Families, school classes, nurseries and companies pack shoeboxes, the parcels are collected at drop-off points, and in early December volunteers drive them by lorry to Albania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine. There they are handed over directly in orphanages, schools and nurseries. According to the organisers, each parcel travels over 2,000 kilometres on average, and which countries are reached depends on the security situation each year.
How to pack a parcel
A shoebox is enough. The convoy distinguishes three age groups, nursery (3 to 6), primary school (7 to 10) and teens (11 to 15), and recommends mixed parcels suitable for girls and boys. Everything should be as good as new, clean and suitable for children, and well-kept used toys are explicitly welcome.
- Put in: a toy, crayons and colouring books, soap and a flannel, a toothbrush and toothpaste, which according to the organisers belong in every parcel, sweets, and ideally a card or a home-made drawing.
- New and sealed: hygiene products and sweets must be new and in their original packaging, and food must keep well and be unopened.
- Please not: worn clothing or toys, glass, electronic toys with batteries, toy weapons, and books or games in German.
Dropping off in Berlin
In Berlin, too, schools, parishes, clubs, practices and companies accept parcels, most of them from mid-October to mid-November. You can find the nearest drop-off point and its exact deadline using the search on the convoy's website. Because transport costs about 3 euros per parcel, the convoy also asks for a small donation.
Good to know
- Pack together: many classes and teams hold a packing day. Not everyone has to pack their own parcel; according to the organisers, quality matters more than quantity.
- Check the deadline: each drop-off point has its own deadline, so ask early.
- More Advent: markets and dates are in Christmas markets and This week.