If you live in the Czech Republic and want to support people who need help, there are many ways to do so. You can donate food, clothing, or money, or support charity shops and social enterprises through your purchases. In Czechia, helping others is highly valued, and non-profits are in need of all the support they can get. Even a small contribution makes a big difference—whether you donate 50 CZK to a fundraising campaign, give away clothing, or enjoy a coffee at a training café.
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1. Food Banks and Food Collections
Food banks collect food and hygiene items from supermarkets, companies, and individuals, and distribute them to seniors, people facing homelessness, single parents, or families in crisis. Twice a year (in April and November), they organize the nationwide Food Drive. During this event, you can buy long-lasting food and toiletries in stores and donate them to volunteers at the exit. You can also support your local food bank outside these events — not only with material donations, but also financially.
2. Clothing and Furniture Banks
There are also clothing and furniture banks in the Czech Republic. Clothing banks collect clean and good-quality clothes for both children and adults and distribute them to people in need. Various non-profit organizations, such as
If you would like to donate used but functional furniture or household items (dishes, decorations, working appliances, etc.), you can bring them to a furniture bank. People who cannot afford basic household items can then select what they need directly from the warehouse. Please note that, for hygiene reasons, furniture banks do not accept upholstered furniture or kitchen units.
3. Charity Shops
Charity shops work in a simple way: people donate items like clothing, books, toys, dishes, decorations, or small furniture. The shop then sells these items to the public at low prices.. The profit from the sales then supports social and charitable projects. Among the most well-known are the
ICP Tip: In Prague, in addition to charity shops, some waste collection centers also operate so-called “Re-use points,” where you can drop off home accessories, dishes, small electronics, books, toys, and sports equipment. These items are then offered for free through the platform Nevyhazujto.cz.
4. Training Cafés and Social Enterprises
You can also help by visiting so-called training cafés or social enterprises. In these cafés and bistros, seniors, people with disabilities, and others who face disadvantages work and develop their job skills. Some of the best-known places in Prague include:
- Kavárna Bílá vrána – employs people with intellectual disabilities
- Kavárna Stará škola – employs people aged 55+
- Café AdAstra – employs people with health disabilities
- Cafe Therapy – employs people at risk of social exclusion (e.g., people after imprisonment or addiction treatment)
- Mezi řádky – employs people with intellectual disabilities
Training cafés and social enterprises can be found in all major cities (you can find the full network in the Czech Republic here). By buying a coffee, dessert, or lunch at these places, you support both the employees and the operation itself.
5. Online Platforms for Financial Support
If you prefer to provide direct financial help, we recommend these trusted online platforms:
- Donio.cz – fundraisers for treatment, medical aids, education, help for animals, and more
- Znesnáze21.cz – verified fundraisers for people in difficult life situations
- Darujme.cz – fundraisers from non-profit organizations across the Czech Republic
On Darujme.cz, you can also find fundraisers from organizations such as Člověk v tísni (support for children and families in need), Post Bellum (stories of witnesses, aid to Ukraine), InIustitia (help for victims of bias-motivated violence), and many more. If you want to give regularly, you can set up a recurring donation for selected campaigns.
ICP Tip: If you donate at least 1,000 CZK in total to Czech fundraisers during the calendar year, you can deduct the donated amount from your taxable income. Be sure to request a donation receipt, which you must submit to the Financial Office with your tax return.
If you know someone who could benefit from the support listed above, encourage them to book an appointment with us for counselling or contact our intercultural workers. Thank you for helping!
This article was created with the support of the Erasmus+ program (2024-1-CZ01-KA122-ADU-000240058).
“Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the European Union or the House of Foreign Cooperation. The European Union and the grant provider are not responsible for them.”
