Page 31 - bon-dia-aruba-20200721

locAl Tuesday 21 July 2020
A31

Fundacion Ajudo na Aruba (FANA) meaning foundation helping Aruba:

“More Arubans and more pregnant women are asking for

immediate food support”

ORANJESTAD — In an interview with in pregnant women, the so-called
the Dutch Annelot Muijres, founder carnival babies, asking for support.
of the foundation Ajudo na Aruba And also people that are evicted
meaning helping Aruba, Aruba from their homes due to rent ar-
Today heard about the growing rears.” Teachers approach her
poverty of the local people due to to express their preoccupations
the COVID-19 crisis and the finan- about students because of the
cial situation on the island. “We growing poverty and social prob-
feed 10.000 people on a monthly lems. “We get in more and more
bases, a growing part are Arubans requests from families for school
and pregnant women”, says Mui- materials.”
jers who started to reach out after
the stories that surfaced of people Refugees
not having any food on the table. FANA collaborates with HIAS, a
“The poverty is growing and social Jewish American nonprofit orga-
problems arise from it.” nization that provides humanitar-
ian aid and assistance to refugees.
FANA notices that more Aruban lo- Muijres informed Aruba Today be-
cals have no savings left anymore, fore that she estimates there are
are awaiting the promised finan- between 25.000 and 30.000 illegals
cial support from the Government on the island. The total (legal) pop- baby milk.” The Arubahuis, the offi- on the tremendous effort of you,
of Aruba (GOA) and are still un- ulation of Aruba is about 106.000 cial representative of Aruba in the the volunteers, as you make this
employed because of the crisis. All inhabitants. “These refugees have Netherlands, recently announced work a success. You work long
this together makes life a struggle. no medical insurance, no jobs and to support FANA by advertising on- days and take precious time away
Annelot: “We also see an increase are in immediate need of food and line how to donate to the founda- from your own families to help Aju-
tion. “We can use all the help there do na Aruba to reach out,” Muijres
is, the registrations keep pouring says. If you would like to join their
in.” fantastic team, please contact
the organization through the con-
Volunteer power tact page on their website. Have a
Muijres started this initiative by pre- look at Aruba Today’s video about
paring home-cooked meals from the foundation on our Facebook
her home, but she soon realized page and website: Corona Street
this was not enough. The grassroots Talk – Ajudo na Aruba https://
organization became an official www.facebook.com/arubatoday/
foundation with president Annelot videos/2315084928799246/.q
Muijres, secretary Lizzy Jansen and
treasurer Xander Muijres. They help
all people in need, not only by pro-
viding meals or groceries, but also
support in basic necessities like dia-
pers, baby formula, soap etc. “We
are doing this all with the love and
the help of our fantastic volunteers.
We thank you all from the bottom
of our hearts. The project depends