Corona post for the elderly
making cards :)
It is Friday afternoon and the children are coming home from school. The atmosphere changes when they hear that their dance class, athletics training and the theater performance (my daughter's birthday present) are canceled because of corona. I explain that that is very annoying but that there are people who are hit harder. Like the elderly who are now alone because their visitors have a cold at home.
can't you help those people?
After the children have thought about what I have explained, the youngest of 6 asks me if I can't help those people because 'you work at NLvoorelkaar and you help people, right?' Unfortunately, we don't have a solution for corona, but it does give me an idea. The children are immediately enthusiastic and a friend is also called in: we are going to make cards and write for the residents of the nursing home around the corner.
Shall I write a joke on it?
But what do you write on such a card? Because we don't know those people. After some brainstorming, the idea arises to also write jokes on it, because "we want to cheer those people up, don't we?". Perfect idea. Just before dinner we walk to the nursing home and ask the employees which of their residents is most in need of some distraction. They all are in these times! Fortunately, we have worked hard and there are 16 elderly people who we can delight with cheerful mail! And when the schools close, we know an activity ;)
A young volunteer
A young volunteer He is only 18 years old, but fascinated by volunteering. He loves nothing more than organizing activities for others and that has been in his blood from an early age. His name is Damien Mrozewski and he is very active within the Activities Committee Oosterhout (ACO). Damien became fascinated by this work, because as a child he helped his grandfather, who was manager of the Heidehof community center. Damien: ”You could always find me there on weekends. I played music there, helped behind the bar, helped when market stalls had to be built for an activity and did whatever was necessary. I spent all day with others and enjoyed it. I still don't understand why Heidehof then had to be demolished all at once, because after that it has not become clear to me at all why there was such a hurry. It's still fallow there." Blood flows where it can't go and the activity work continued to fascinate Damien. In 2015, when he was 14 years old, he founded the Dommelbergen Activities Committee. The first activity he organized was a Christmas market in the Sterrenbuurt. That was a success and provided sufficient incentive for Damien to continue at full strength. He contacted Oosterhoutvoorelkaar to find volunteers who could help him organize and the Dommelbergen Activities Committee was expanded. He is now full-time organizing activities throughout Oosterhout. “I dropped out of school last year and I am now continuing to learn in practice. I get help from a team of young volunteers. The eight of us are now also active in Dorst and we even have expansion plans for Teteringen. We meet on Fridays to make plans.” Damien turns out to be a very active doer. “Paperwork is not for me. I like to leave that to others, but if sponsors have to be sought for a project, I'm happy to do that. And if I do say so myself, it has worked out quite well so far.” Thanks to the Oosterhout Activities Committee, Damien has met many friends. “My life has become a lot better because of it. I use a PC for work, but otherwise you won't find me with a tablet in my hands. I'm way too busy for that. I would like to advise other young people to join us. Doing something for someone else really makes your life more fun. You get to know a lot of people and you won't get bored anymore”. Oosterhoutvoorelkaar will pay extra attention in 2020 to voluntary work for young people. Do you ever sit too much with your tablet in your hand? Are you also open to get to know other people and maybe make new friends? Then please contact Oosterhoutvoorelkaar. If you want, we can put you in touch with Damien and maybe your life, like Damien's, will become a lot more fun by volunteering for the ACO. If you don't like the work for the ACO, but you would like to contribute in a different way as a volunteer, you are of course also very welcome. There is always volunteer work that suits you. You can call us on 0162-471115 or email us at info@oosterhoutvoorelkaar.nl . But we think it's even better if you visit us in our volunteer shop in Arendshof at number 83. We are open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm. Wednesdays and Fridays until 12 noon. The coffee is ready! Share these stories and inspire others to help too! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Whatsapp Forward
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