It started with a Christmas gift campaign at the end of last year. “My daughter and I moved here in September,” says Patries. “We didn’t know anyone and wanted to get among the people. In the past she had already set up a Christmas gift campaign. “I wanted to do that again.” De Kaatsheuvelse contacted Steunpunt region 0416, a Facebook group for the less fortunate. “And then it exploded.”
The need is high
This Facebook group of Esther Damen from Kaatsheuvel now has 11,000 members throughout the Langstraat. “The intention was to help five families with a Christmas gift, it became ten, fifteen and eventually forty,” says Patries. It was then that she realized how dire the need was. “A lot of families messaged that they had nothing and I had plenty left.” Patries invited a woman to come and get a sack of potatoes. “She cried, so glad she was with it.”
Traffic jam in the garden
Not only people who could really use help came forward. Also people and companies who are happy to donate. “Before I knew it, my entire hallway was full. That’s when the idea for the cabinet arose.” The cupboard in the garden on the Potgieterstraat in Kaatsheuvel has been there for well over a week now. And it ran right away. “The first day there was just no traffic jam in my garden.” Now an average of about ten people a day, estimates Patries. “To bring and fetch goods.”
‘No one should be ashamed’
The cupboard is always open, day and night. “Sometimes people are ashamed, they come late at night or early in the morning when no one sees them. But there’s no need for that. Nobody should be ashamed and luckily many people don’t either. I also notice that it becomes easier, people who wave when they walk away again. And often I get an app. That they are happy with a bag of chips, for example, so that there is something to nibble on for the kids on Saturday evening.”
There are no rules around the food sharing cabinet. “Although we say: don’t fill your entire bag. Grab what you need. We are not a free store. Also think about who comes after you.”
second cabinet
Patries has a good taste. Soon there will be a second cabinet, offered by a company. One cabinet remains for food, the other cabinet becomes for other stuff. “For small gifts, for example. We don’t want people to cancel a birthday because they can’t bring a present or go to a baby shower for that reason.”
Sanitary pads and self-tests
The cabinet project is also sponsored by the Poverty Fund. “Through the fund we get, for example, sanitary towels and tampons, but also self-tests and mouth caps. There is a lot of demand for that. I always make sure there is toothpaste in the cupboard and deodorant.”
party boxes
In addition, Patries and her daughter have set up another project: party boxes. “People who don’t have the money to decorate their house can get the garlands here. Or a treat on their child’s birthday. My daughter bakes a lot of cupcakes.”
The party boxes can be picked up in Kaatsheuvel, Vlijmen and Raamsdonkveer. “There will also be a food cabinet in Vlijmen and Raamsdonkveer. I am the central collection point and I divide the goods over the various places, so that we can look closely at what is needed.”
nice mess
Patries is not afraid that once the novelty wears off, the number of donations will decrease. “I notice that people like to participate. Sometimes I come home and suddenly there are a few bags with groceries in front of the door.”
She is busy with it, agrees Patries, who also has a job in care. Her house is packed. “Not just in the hallway. You should see it upstairs.” Actually, she doesn’t like clutter. “But this is fine rubbish, I guess. We get energy from it.”
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Source: AD