The only bakery in the historic town of Megen is closing. The store belongs to the care organization Dichterbij, which uses the company as daytime activities for its mildly mentally challenged clients. Because the care organization no longer sees any value in it, it has to look for other daytime activities for the young bakers. “We have been silenced,” says Eddy Müller, who works as a volunteer for the bakery.
“I am devastated. This is close to my heart,” says supervisor Sanne Mulders. She wanted to tell her story in front of the camera of Omroep Brabant. The Dichterbij Foundation was asked for a response half an hour before the interview. The foundation then quickly called the bakery to prevent the interview.
“I’m not allowed to say anything anymore. I’m sorry,” says Sanne, shocked. She is still busy calling the foundation. “They just impose a gag order on you,” concludes volunteer Eddy. “That’s drunk.”
“It’s been crying all day here.”
Ten clients with a mild intellectual disability help at Bakery Antoon and Frans. They help the bakers with baking or wrapping bread. The picturesque bakery has been in the village hall for about ten years. “This isn’t fun at all,” says one client sadly.
“It’s been crying all day here,” notes 74-year-old Eddy. He works as a driver for the foundation. “A boy didn’t sleep all night because of the closure,” he said. He will ‘especially miss the chats with clients.’
“It was an act of desperation.”
“Stop them, guys!”, regular customer Barbara Bouwman enters, fighting. “I think this is very bad. Megen already has so little and this will also go away. The people here are so nice and warm.”
“It was an act of desperation,” Sanne says about her attempt at an interview. “I hope someone will save us.” That seems to be against our better judgment, because the decision is final for the foundation.
“The bakery is outdated and no longer suitable for providing good daytime activities,” spokesperson Lycia Bakker explains the closure. “We understand that our clients find this decision very annoying.” According to supervisor Sanne, it is due to ‘financial problems in the organization’, but the foundation denies this.
The bakery will close in the first quarter of next year. Another daytime activity is being sought for the clients, the foundation promises. Residents of Megen will have to buy their bread elsewhere from now on.
