On April 27, 1999, a large crowd gathered in front of the “Moneyless Department Store” [Kaufhaus ohne Geld] in the city of Halle (Saale) one hour before its official opening. As Germany’s first department store for the needy, it provides low-income people with free food and textile goods. The store is open twice a week and is supplied with bread, cold cuts, milk, shoes, children’s clothing, toys and other goods by sponsors from the city and its environs. It was founded at the initiative of a Hamburg businessman. Similar shopping venues, all run by volunteers, have sprung up in other German cities.