It is pleasantly busy on Friday afternoon in the cultural center in Baarle-Nassau during the social Christmas dinner, especially for people who would otherwise be alone at home on Boxing Day. “No one has to be alone at Christmas, there is no need for that.”
With a fire on the screen in the background and plenty of chatter, there is a cozy atmosphere in the cultural center. Ad van Tilborg enjoys the good food and good company: “When I sit at home, I sit alone. Here I am with a lot of people and I can socialize.”
There are many acquaintances for Ad. “People from the past who you still know from your youth. Those people are all getting older. I like to look for fun, because they don’t bring that to you,” he laughs.
“These kinds of meetings are necessary.”
Wim Vervoort is one of the volunteers of the social Christmas dinner. “We have been organizing it here for five years now. We do this for people who are having financial or social difficulties. We want to organize a connecting moment during Christmas.”
According to Wim, loneliness is not only a problem in the city. “Maybe it is more present there, but there are sixty of us here, so that proves that these types of meetings are also necessary here.”
Throughout the year they organize afternoons where people can come and have a cup of coffee or play a game. “Those afternoons are busy, so that indicates that people need it and want to get outside.”
“It’s very well organised.”
Volunteer Mieke is helping out for the first time this year. “I thought it would be fun to help out as a volunteer and fun to meet people from the Baarle area.” She thinks it is important that people who would otherwise be alone at home have the opportunity to enjoy a meal together. “No one has to be alone at Christmas, there is no need for that.”
Ad van Tilborg is enthusiastic about the organization of the Christmas dinner. “I do have a walker, but in this weather it is too cold to walk for that long, so they come to pick me up at home and take me back later. It is very well organised.”