Loads of clubs and organisations have donated, with an events company kitchen preparing the dishes
Sports organisations have donated leftovers isotonic drinks and sweets from the canteen, farmers have come with crates full of cucumbers, and a poultry farmer donated 2160 eggs- Drenthe’s call for help in its food banks has been answered incredibly.
The call was an initiative by Erik Davids and Ginetta Houwing. Davids is a marketeer from Assen, whilst Houwing runs the Plus Events agency, that has a professional kitchen. The kitchen is staffed by chefs that are used to cooking for five hundred to a thousand people, but due to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak, all events have been canceled. So the kitchen has turned its collective hands to helping feed vulnerable people, reports the Asser Courant.
Davids’ elderly neighbor was the source of inspiration, he says. “He was served meals at church, but that service was stopped after the Coronavirus outbreak. He lived on custard and apple sauce for a few days, and then I started cooking for him. But I soon realized that those salty pastas can never be good for his health in the long run. That’s how I came up with this idea. ”
Houwing was immediately enthusiastic. “I hated to hear that people can no longer receive food from the food bank because of the Coronavirus. Or if you are older and cannot see your children and grandchildren- and then your meal service suddenly disappears. How do you feel then? So come on, we just do this. ”
The two presented their plans on the RTV Drenthe radio programme Cassata, and were immediately besieged by people looking to help. They set up an advert on the good-will website Drenthe Steunt, and started receiving donations. “We can now make the first 150 meals, and we have three volunteers that can deliver, including a business-owner from Haren that has nothing to do because his fitness centre is closed”, says Davids. Anyone associated with the Southern-Drents food bank Hart van Drenthe will be given the meals for free. “Others, for example the elderly, may pay 7 euros for a meal and can order through the website”, Davids added.
If you or anyone you know might require delivered food, more information is available via the Drenthe Steunt website.
Image by Robyn Wright via Pixabay
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