District approach
Mayor Smit later underlined the importance of organizations such as the Salvation Army. “They know what is really needed for the neighborhood approach,” he says. That approach has recently been expanded to the center of Beverwijk, where the problems increase steadily. “People with misunderstood behavior are often left to their own devices and that causes problems,” the mayor acknowledges.
That there are people like Rein who are committed to this, earns recognition in time. Yesterday that happened with a look of appreciation and a gift: a special bicycle with which the volunteers can cycle through the neighborhood, can talk to local residents and hand out small things.
What does Rein himself like the best about his work? He laughs. “Pff, you are asking that again. I don’t know … yes, that with those children. That will succeed. But actually everything you do here is special,” he says gratefully.