Story of Ingrid
"It was love at first sight"
So says Ingrid Hoogendijk, volunteer at Oosterhoutvoorelkaar. She is not talking about her husband here, but about Mrs. Roovers, better known as "aunt Riky" .
"We sometimes say it to each other for fun," says Ingrid. There has been such a nice "click" between us from the start. At one point I ended up sitting at home after I was partly rejected. But I'm not at all the type for that and soon I decided to follow a course to become a "budget coach". Which I now also do as a volunteer at Surplus." "However, I was still missing something, so I came up with the idea to place an advertisement at Oosterhoutvoorelkaar. I offered to do something fun with older people. At the same time, Mrs. Roovers' nephew also had his aunt placed a call and eventually contacted me at Oosterhoutvoorelkaar."
"It has been a year and a half since aunt Riky and I met and now we see each other twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. In the beginning we went shopping twice a week, but because cooking became more difficult for Aunt Riky is now bringing catering to Vermeulen, so we only had to do the shopping once a week, after which Aunt Riky, almost disappointed, asked me if I was planning to come by just once a week. "Aunt Riky", I reassured her and since then we always do something fun together on Thursdays. Aunt Riky can decide what that is. That can vary from shopping for clothes in the city, visiting family or having a cup of coffee in, for example Heusden."
"For me it is now so much more than volunteer work. On the one hand it provides me with regularity and on the other hand I have something fun to do every week and I enjoy Aunt Riky so much."
"Once we went to the show "Moeder Ik Wil Bij De Revue" together. Through the supermarket we had saved stamps for a "second ticket for free" and that day Aunt Riky enjoyed this so much. We had a snack and a drink during the break and that's how it really was a day out. Aunt Riky still talks about it now. That was special and that is dear to me."
"If I can give others any advice regarding volunteering, I would just say: "Just do it". Even with little time or small things, some people are already very helpful. Such as bringing a birthday cake from the baker when you go to get groceries yourself because someone has difficulty walking and can't get around. Even if it's just for an hour a week ... just do it. It's so much fun . As far as I'm concerned I will continue with this for a long time!"Got inspired? Then sign up at Oosterhoutvoorelkaar!