Just before Christmas, hundreds of volunteers from Kerst050 raced through the city to deliver Christmas packages to minima. A nice initiative. But not all recipients are equally happy with the contents of the Christmas packages. Saskia Sterkman, who also received such a package, is downright angry about it, she writes in a letter opinions. And that is quite understandable.
What was in the Christmas packages? Well, in any case, no luxury ingredients for a tasty Italian feast, as you may have received it once. And no fresh sugar loaves or tasty chocolates from the baker. Or a nice bottle of red wine. What is?: Foods from the very cheap Everyday, filled biscuits with a filling of ground white beans, a jar of factory applesauce, a can of diced tomatoes and a pack of white spaghetti, says Saskia. It will be best that there are people who are happy with that, whether out of politeness or not. But the average person (admit it) just puts this under the category of ‘cheap junk’.
Sterkman preferred to receive a voucher, or just money. Because what do you make the most happy people with little money? Precisely. Very simple: with money. So that they can actually buy something that makes them happy; what they need. And so that they can make their own choice.
There used to be such a voucher for poor families in the city. They received 50 or 25 euros for clothes and toys during Christmas. But this year the municipality decided to switch to Christmas packages, and it did so by supporting the citizens’ initiative Kerst050.
‘But there were vouchers in the package’, the compilers will now shout. And that’s right. Coupons for second-hand clothing, other second-hand items and advice for getting money matters in order. The first two things are of course very sustainable and all that. But the latter is mainly ‘inappropriate’ and ‘patronising’, other minima also react on Twitter. And blame them.
Although it is of course all well-intentioned, the contents of the packages show a bit of little respect. In any case, with this knowledge you get a bit itchy from the images in which rich benefactors cheerfully drop packages at poor fellow city residents. Packages with, um, junk.
The municipality may have to reintroduce the vouchers next year. The money will be spent anyway, so why not let people choose something themselves? So that everyone is happy? And otherwise Kerst050 could fill the packages a little more generously. Suggestion: in any case, fill them with products that would make you happy yourself, if you were to receive a Christmas gift.
Add on:
Evert Sulman of Kerst050 says he is always open to feedback. “But”, he says, “Christmas050’s aim is not to put together luxurious, biologically responsible packages. Our goal is: to let everyone know that everyone belongs, especially at Christmas. We’ve put together packs that we think most people will be happy with. These are packages worth 100 euros.” According to Sulman, the responses show that the vast majority are indeed very happy with it. “We have had hundreds of positive responses.”
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