The business space of the Kerkrade Natasia Boom is overflowing with things for Ukrainians. “Heartwarming what people bring to help.”
Her spontaneous relief effort to organize a convoy towards the border area with Ukraine is generating a lot of support.
Insecure
Natasia Boom: “Warm clothes, diapers and blankets. We get all kinds of things. We could still use drivers and money to get gas. It will be a long journey.” They leave on Wednesday morning. “We are driving with passenger cars and small trucks to refugee shelters. The route we choose is still uncertain due to the whole situation. We thought Poland, but maybe it will be Slovenia. Anyway: we go.”
De Kerkraadse has no family or acquaintances living in Ukraine. Her involvement is self-evident, she says. “Imagine yourself in such a situation. Then you are also happy that you get help from others.”
Depot
Her business premises on Lindenlaan in Kerkrade were a practice for psychotherapy and wellness. Now it serves as a storage for all the relief supplies that people bring. The convoy hopes to reach a depot set up by the Ukrainian military. Field hospitals are also supplied from there.
catch
“On the return journey we will take a number of refugees with us that we can receive in Kerkrade and other places,” says Boom. “We have contacts in Poland where a group of people are already waiting for us to travel back to the Netherlands with them.”
