More than 900 families from Assen will be made happy this Christmas with a well-filled Christmas package from the Assen Christmas Package Campaign. From chocolate milk to macaroni and baked rolls to gifts for the children.
“Everyone should have a wonderful Christmas,” said Nadia Hagge of the organization. “Finances can put considerable pressure on how people experience Christmas. We hope to be able to contribute to this with these Christmas packages.”
These days there are eighty volunteers walking around the Multifunctional Accommodation in Assen to fill all the packages, and that is quite a job.
“We work two days in different shifts to get everything ready on time. Everything has to be ready tonight and then tomorrow we will deliver everything to the families. And that is the best part of the job.”
Volunteer Fred Veldwisch is leaving after 17 years of loyal service. He has seen the need increase considerably in recent years. “I started 17 years ago in the warehouse of a supermarket with 40 Christmas packages, now there are about 940 packages. It is very sad that it is necessary, but I have done it with great pleasure all these years.” This year is the last time he can manage the entire logistical operation of packing.
Prior to packing, a number of secondary schools in Assen were quite busy collecting products for the Christmas packages. Thanks to the committed efforts of students, employees and others from the school community, a total of more than 1,700 products were collected. Tomorrow the Assen Christmas Package Campaign will hand out all wrapped packages to families.