The Christmas spirit is of paramount importance to Jolanda Brakels from Gemert. She believes that no one should be lonely at Christmas and therefore organizes a Christmas dinner for fellow villagers who would otherwise have to spend Christmas alone. Dinner is provided by chefs, somewhat young waiters and there is even a singing choir.
Jolanda’s living room is saturated with Christmas atmosphere. There are lights, garlands everywhere and cozy candlelight illuminates the dining table. No fewer than seventeen people will join her tonight. And Jolanda has a lot of treats in store for them: they are presented with a selection of eleven different dishes. “Amuses, soups and many different dishes are put on the table. Then we finish with a coffee and something tasty,” says the hostess.
For example, at the dining table sits a woman who has lost her partner and would be spending Christmas alone for the first time this year. “There are also people who have a small social network, for example due to illness,” says Jolanda.
This is not the first time that Jolanda has shown her best side during the holidays. “Every year I do something for a good cause at Christmas,” she says. “But this year I wanted to make sure that every euro I spend is well spent.” That’s why she took matters into her own hands and the idea arose to organize a Christmas dinner.
Last summer she checked with the municipality to gauge whether there was any demand for it. There was. “The municipality indicated that quite a few people would be happy with the initiative,” says the initiator. From that moment on the ball really started rolling.
“There may be some spills here and there, but it’s worth the risk!”
Jolanda has now made her idea a reality with the support of local entrepreneurs, the municipality, her family and friends. Initially she was looking for a professional chef, ‘but all chefs are of course very busy during Christmas’. Fortunately, two of her friends wanted to put on the chef’s hat, so that the guests did not go home on an empty stomach.
The waiters are a bit on the young side. Understandable, because it is Jolanda’s children who receive the guests, serve the food and provide them with drinks. And don’t the children find it annoying that they have to work during Christmas? “They think it’s fantastic! The eldest even wants to become a host when she grows up,” she says enthusiastically. “There may be some spills here and there, but it’s worth the risk!”
Jolanda also finds her role absolutely no punishment: “I have had some stressful moments, so much has to be arranged. But not for a single moment have I regretted starting it. The work is so much fun to do and I get a lot of satisfaction of.’
Those stressful moments don’t stop her from doing it again: “If I can, I definitely want to do it again next year,” says Jolanda with beaming eyes. “With a bit of luck we can even go to a restaurant.”
