Six years ago, Shata Tamim fled to the Netherlands for the war in Syria. Now she is handing out clothes to Ukrainians who have fled the Russian invasion of their country head over heels. “We were in the same situation six years ago,” Shata says. “Now we can help them and that gives them very good energy.”
Shata remembers well when she was in the Netherlands for the first time and got off the bus at the asylum seekers’ center in Ter Apel. “People came to us with clothes and cookies and said ‘welcome’. And now we want to do that again.”
In recent days, Zaankanters have brought a lot of clothes, toys and toiletries to the old Miss Etam in the Rozenhof in Zaandam. The storage is filled to the brim and the shelves in the store are full. Refugees from Ukraine find their way there and are very grateful to the organization.
‘Dirty clothes with holes’
“It’s very good that people give clothes,” says Julia Morazova. She arrived in the Netherlands a week ago and is staying with friends. “Ukrainians need clothes. Some have dirty clothes with holes, because when people fled here they had no idea what would happen.”
Her daughter Anastasia was due to graduate this year and does not know if she can do that now. The two decided to leave Ukraine, but couldn’t take Julia’s parents with them because her father has a bad back. Now they have daily contact to ask how they are doing.
Spring clothes
Alina also fled with her husband and child. They follow the news daily and are now in the store to pick out things that are much needed. “Most of the clothes are needed for spring, because everyone came in winter clothes because it was still cold in Ukraine. It’s 15 degrees with sun here,” she says. Toys are also needed for her child, because it is his birthday soon.
Meanwhile, Zaankanters keep arriving with bags for the refugees. The organization says that mainly underwear and toiletries are needed. The refugees can come once a week to get things. The store will be open again on Monday.