“Christmas is for everyone,” they say at Het Kersthuis. That is why mini-families were allowed to sit down today for a Christmas breakfast in the Grote Kerk in Alkmaar. Joy, Frank and Diana are overjoyed to experience this: “Now we can finally celebrate.”
The doors of the church were literally and figuratively wide open this morning for mini families. More than 160 people trickled in this morning for breakfast and entrance to Het Kersthuis. The breakfast was organized by Theater de Vest.
The minimum age group has the church all to themselves and can enjoy all the activities there after dinner, from curling to a silent disco. “We are very grateful,” they say while waiting for a hot cup of coffee.
No stigma
Further along at one of the tables, Joy sits with her two daughters. She is also very grateful to be here today. “Today is my birthday and I normally never celebrate it. Because when you have little, that is one of the first things you put aside,” she says. “So it’s nice that we can finally celebrate together. It was meant to be this way,” she says.
“I am really very impressed. This is not in anyone’s self-interest and that is very nice to see,” said Joy. According to her, this fits perfectly with the Christmas spirit and doing something for each other. “They really only do this so that we can experience this. I really have a lot of respect for that.”
Moreover, she likes that there is no stigma about the meeting today. “Everyone is the same here and there is a pleasant atmosphere.” Frank also agrees with that. “Above all, it is very pleasant,” he says. “Everyone comes together here and we can enjoy the live music and all the activities. That’s very nice.”
Nice gesture
As icing on the cake, the minimum income earners receive a surprise: a Christmas gift. Because Christmas naturally involves presents. For example, we collaborated with Jumbo, the bakery, More Than Gifts and even looted the Lego store to put together the Christmas packages.
The Christmas House is doing quite well in spreading the Christmas spirit, according to Diana. She is in church today with her father and children. While her daughter is busy playing with Lego blocks, the mother watches happily.
“Normally I wouldn’t be able to afford this and then we also get a whole breakfast on top of it,” says Diana. “It’s actually way too much, but it is a really nice gesture. I think it’s fantastic that this is there for us.”
Emotional
All in all, the breakfast seems very successful. The minimum income people happily walk out the door with their Christmas gifts and thank the organizers of Theater de Vest and Het Kersthuis from the bottom of their hearts.
Lotte van der Eng from Het Kersthuis looks on with pride. “It almost makes me a little emotional,” she says. “I hope these people were able to experience a slightly better Christmas today.”