Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY
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Friday 29 December 2017
This page is sponsored by:
You Can Help Keeping Aruba Happy:
‘We Are Not Only a Food
Bank, but Help Reintegration
into Society’
ORANJESTAD - Fundacion Pa Nos Comunidad help with crisis packages to those in immedi-
(FPNC) means ‘Foundation for our Commu- ate need and we have participation projects
nity’ in Papiamento. Goal of the foundation is to help our clients reintegrate into society.” The
to fight poverty, mental emergency and social last part is not to be underestimated as it is an
exclusion in the widest sense of the word. This important focus for the foundation. “Clients
is done regardless of nationality, religion or can start here as a volunteer to learn getting
culture. It is the only official food bank in the is- into the working process again and after we
land. Aruba Today spoke with Jareth Vermeu- help them find a job or –if they are ready- we
len, Project & Entrepreneur Coordinator of the help finding a job straight away. We have our
foundation. “There is poverty in the island and own store, Cosoma, where we sell clothing
it is growing, it is not only happiness here. Most and food for low prices. All profits go to the
clients lost their job and fall hard. Young and foundation because we are non-profit and
old, family crisis’s, it can happen to all of us.” non-governmental. We also provide in courses
for social reintegration like Assertive Course.”
The foundation is a well-oiled organization and The foundation has two former clients that are
it is much more than just handing out food employed here now and one of them is nomi-
packages. Jareth: ‘We provide registered cli- nated for the Volunteer of The year Award:
ents with food packages, we offer ad-hoc Edison Asprilla. “And we also pay house visits
to stay in close touch with our clients and see
what they need.”
Share the Bread
The moment you enter the foundation you
feel the positive vibe that rubs off. People with
a good heart work here and you feel that
good is done. “Three times a week we hand
out bread, donated by supermarkets Super-
food and Save-A-Lot. Than we have the food
packages that contain elementary products.
But we definitely can use more help.” There is
a waiting list with more than the double num-
ber of registrations than the current number of
clients. With more support they can obviously
help more people. FNPC works together with
the Social Affairs department in the govern-
ment and is also the overarching foundation
for other social organizations.
Elegant Clothes
While you are on vacation in our beautiful paradise, why not take the chance
to get in touch with a good cause to give some of your happiness to others.
Your time, a gift or any other contribution will help you and them. Step by
the foundation and hear the enthusiasm of Jareth and his colleagues about
this professional foundation that plays an important role to keep your favor-
ite vacation island also happy for their inhabitants. “For short time we are in
need of elegant clothing that our clients can wear these holidays and also
to job interviews. In regular sizes as we get a lot irregular sizes. The same for
shoes. For all ages, children to adults. Of course, we are happy with any kind
of help. Just call us to step by. You are most welcome.”q
If you would like to visit the foundation, please call +(297) 588-0002 and ask for Jareth Vermeulen. On Tuesdays there are tours from 8 – 10.30 am
and 2.30 – 5 pm. If you would like to donate, please do so at bank account ArubaBank 1000 or CMB Bank 60001000 or RBC Bank 4419502. For more
information visit the website: www.fpncaruba.com or Facebook: Fundacion Pa Nos Comunidad (FPNC Aruba).
