With the holidays just around the corner, a pleasant but also expensive period begins. If you have a small wallet, it can be quite a challenge to make something beautiful out of it. These generous North Hollanders do everything they can to make the end of the year beautiful for everyone.
1. Sinterklaas party for children from demand families in Zaandam
A visit from Sinterklaas and a present for children who might not otherwise receive it. In Westerwatering, Zaanse, the Neighborhood Families Foundation organizes a party for children known to them. They come from families that are struggling and can regularly visit a stable family in the neighborhood.
Coordinator Daniëlle de Heer guesses that this will be the fourth year that the Sinterklaas party is organized. “It’s fantastic for the children,” she says. “The children receive gifts that are selected in advance by the parents. And the parents themselves also receive a chocolate letter.”
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The party on Saturday, November 29 is free and is funded by sponsors. Daniëlle: “You always get such nice reactions from the parents. Afterwards they often send photos.”
It is so successful that the De Zeskanter community center is actually a bit on the small side for the party. “Maybe we should look at a larger location for next year.”
2. ‘Action Pepernoot’ from the Don Bosco College in Volendam
Just like last year, the Don Bosco College in Volendam is collecting gingerbread nuts and other delicacies for the Give & Take Foundation, so that all children can have a wonderful Sinterklaas. Students can hand in their remaining chocolate letters and other sweets to the media library or their mentor until Monday, December 1.
3. Christmas dinner for people who deserve it in Purmerend
A luxurious Christmas dinner in the heart of Purmerend, that is what René Verhoogt would like to offer to 75 fellow citizens who could use some support. The dinner will take place on December 15 at Villa Clementine, normally an events and wedding venue.
Purmerend residents may know René from the City Kitchen Purmerend. NH Helpt visited him earlier this year. Text continues under the report.
People from Purmerend can nominate people who really deserve to participate in such a Christmas dinner. “We deliberately did it in such a way that people cannot give up on themselves,” says René.
“We try to reach the target group as much as possible. These are people who have experienced something bad in the past year, or who are lonely. Or people who have little to spend and will not sit in a restaurant for an expensive dinner.”
Why is he committed to this? “I’m retired now so I have a little more time. Now I would like to give those people a fantastic evening with a nice dinner and lots of fun.”
4. Christmas market for minimum income people in Koog aan de Zaan
A Christmas market with free stuff. Sabrina Tilleman and other volunteers from the Helpende Vriend Foundation are busy these days collecting Christmas baubles, garlands and other products to offer. They will soon be driving up and down to Rosmalen for a while.
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“We are using my neighbor’s private place. We hope it will be a success,” says Sabrina.
The Christmas market is on Saturday, November 22 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Mosakker 86 in Koog aan de Zaan.
5. Erol puts together Christmas packages in Purmerend
Restaurateur Erol Savur has been running a Christmas hamper campaign for four years in a row. Together with sponsors, he collects all kinds of products from which he makes beautiful packages. People who come to eat in his restaurant are also asked to make a donation.
“We have also had a meal campaign for people who are less fortunate for about five or six years,” says the benefactor. “I also enjoyed doing something at Christmas. This year our goal is to make at least a hundred packages and distribute them to people who need them. Our thing is simply: if we make people happy, we become happy ourselves.”