The scent of fresh fries spread today from the open doors of the Protestant church in Schagerbrug, for the second edition of the ‘Frietkerk’. An initiative of the Diaconie to provide lonely elderly in the neighborhood a pleasant and tasty afternoon.
According to them, the summer vacation can be a lonely time for many elderly people. “It is quieter in the village, there is less movement. And family is often on vacation,” says initiator Ineke Schering.
That is why everyone was welcome today for a nice lunch and especially a lot of fun. After an opening story by predecessor Erik Jan Tillema, the owner of the local snack bar came to deliver no less than 12 kilos of freshly baked fries and 60 sandwiches croquette. “We are completely full, so there is 60 people to eat,” says Ineke.
New contacts
Although talking about loneliness with some elderly people may feel like a taboo, those present visibly enjoy each other’s company. “You come across old acquaintances, but also people you never speak to,” says a woman.
The Frietkerk therefore appears to be a great success, and will continue to return annually as far as the organization is concerned. There is also a winter variant: the ‘Snertkerk’. “That will be somewhere in January, but we still have to plan that,” says Ineke, “but what it’s all about is being fun together, having people meet each other.”