Some of the Ukrainian refugees in Venlo are taken care of in Hotel Puur in the city center of Venlo. What started there as providing shelter has grown into a coordination point for ‘first aid’.
Floor Billekens and Wim Do are now working almost day and night to arrange everything for all Ukrainian refugees in the region.
More than shelter
When the first people arrived in Venlo, it soon became clear that more was needed than just shelter, food and drink. “If a mother comes to ask for baby food, you drive to Kruidvat. And if people say we can take a shower but we don’t have underwear, then you go and buy underwear at the Wibra. And that’s how the ball started rolling,” says Floor. And so there are now a pop-up drugstore and a clothing bank. Then Floor and Wim started looking in their network for companies that organize activities. There will be various opportunities for sports and a cafe where the refugees can meet.
work and school
The pair also helped with the registration of the refugees with the municipality so that the children can go to school and childcare. Intake interviews are organized for adults to be allowed to work. Floor and Wim have now gathered a club of about 100 volunteers to help.
‘Little Kiev’
Wim thinks it is important to give his guests a safe feeling in Klein Kiev, as he now calls his hotel. “I want to create whatever they had at home. The basic needs: toys for the children, education, sports activities, maybe work in the future. And especially creating a safe feeling here in this living room”, says Wim.
Long-term care
At Hotel Puur 60 refugees are now being accommodated. This location was actually intended for a relatively short stay. But because there is not enough shelter available for a longer period of time, the refugees will probably be accommodated at this location for a long time. With their platform, Floor and Wim offer help to all refugees from Ukraine who are staying in Venlo and the surrounding area.
People who want to support the platform can visit facebook.com/venlosteuntoekraine