A large basement room of Het Mozaïek was full this week with piles of shirts, pants and bedding. Enough to provide all children at the specialized primary school with clothing for a year. And that is necessary, because several students live at or below the poverty line.
The school has been organizing the clothing market for a few years. There is increasing interest in the free items, notes director Birgitte Plasmans. “At first there was still some shame, people found it difficult to come here. But now you see that everyone just comes by and takes things with them. Even for brothers, sisters, grandfathers and grandmothers.”
Twice a year there is a clothing market at the school. “One after the autumn holidays for winter clothes and one after the May holidays for summer clothes.”
Lots of enthusiasm from the children
A large part of the items were collected by volunteers from the Lions Club Crailo, a service club that ‘is committed to initiatives that contribute to the well-being of others’. One of the members, Carel Asser, says: “We don’t just collect clothes; we also like to be there ourselves on such a week. For example, we also help children choose clothes.”
According to Asser, the campaign has been a great success. “The children’s enthusiasm is great. Sometimes children cannot even choose what they want to take with them. It meets their needs, and we think that is very nice.”
After Friday, not all clothing will be gone. But according to director Plasmans, this will also get a nice place. “Everything will be donated to the Salvation Army.”