‘A happy Christmas for everyone’ is the message of the Christmas market of the Helmond initiative BeBizzy. People who are not well off can also come here. All Christmas items are given away for free. “For me this is really a solution, you can do a lot for little!” says Anja, single mother of two children.
One person is looking among the Christmas baubles for a new showpiece for the tree, the other is untying a string of Christmas lights – the ‘free Christmas market’ is in full swing. BeBizzy Helmond collects items all year round for people with a small wallet, but keeps the Christmas items separate. On Friday everyone was welcome in the building on Nachtegaallaan in the heart of Helmond to pick out something nice for Christmas.
“We want people to be able to come here to share that they are having a difficult time,” says board member Mietske van Hooff. “Christmas is an expensive period, just like Sinterklaas, but people living in poverty can also go here to take beautiful things home.”
Even though there is no price tag on the items, Mietske and the three other board members still get something in return. “It gives such a warm feeling to be here,” she says enthusiastically. “There is so much connection and understanding, that really fits in with the Christmas spirit!”
“I am under supervision, but I can still come here and have fun with us too!”
Mietske is far from the only one who gets excited about the Christmas market. Anja van Kemenade, a single mother of two children, also walks among the Christmas decorations with a warm feeling. She picked out a gold candle holder with snowmen. “I could really use that! I really enjoy doing crafts at Christmas,” she says. “But I am under surveillance. Still, I can come here to get craft supplies to make it fun with us.”
Renate Jakl also passed. In her bag there is a cord with outdoor lighting. “It’s for the garden and the front door,” she says, beaming. She also picked out a beautiful Christmas wreath and bead necklace. In addition to the Christmas market, Renate often visits BeBizzy’s living room. During the week, except for Wednesday, everyone is welcome to come for coffee in the afternoon. “I’ve been coming here for two and a half years and there are always such lovely people. It is always nice to come here,” says Renate.
Fourteen-year-old Emma van Schaijk strolls through the store, looking for everything that is pink. She has already managed to dig up a set of pink Christmas baubles. “I gave my mother pink gnomes as a gift,” says Emma. “So with these pink balls we want to make a completely pink Christmas tree. You can choose what you want here, without thinking about what it all costs. I’m amazed!”