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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’

help with crisis packages to those in immedi-
ate need and we have participation projects
to help our clients reintegrate into society.” The
last part is not to be underestimated as it is an
important focus for the foundation. “Clients
can start here as a volunteer to learn getting
into the working process again and after we
help them find a job or –if they are ready- we
help finding a job straight away. We have our
own store, Cosoma, where we sell clothing
and food for low prices. All profits go to the
foundation because we are non-profit and
non-governmental. We also provide in courses
for social reintegration like Assertive Course.”
The foundation has two former clients that are
employed here now and one of them is nomi-
nated for the Volunteer of The year Award:
Edison Asprilla. “And we also pay house visits
ORANJESTAD - Fundacion Pa Nos Comunidad to stay in close touch with our clients and see
(FPNC) means ‘Foundation for our Commu- what they need.”
nity’ in Papiamento. Goal of the foundation is
to fight poverty, mental emergency and social Share the Bread
exclusion in the widest sense of the word. This The moment you enter the foundation you
is done regardless of nationality, religion or feel the positive vibe that rubs off. People with
culture. It is the only official food bank in the is- a good heart work here and you feel that
land. Aruba Today spoke with Jareth Vermeu- good is done. “Three times a week we hand
len, Project & Entrepreneur Coordinator of the out bread, donated by supermarkets Super-
foundation. “There is poverty in the island and food and Save-A-Lot. Than we have the food
it is growing, it is not only happiness here. Most packages that contain elementary products.
clients lost their job and fall hard. Young and But we definitely can use more help.” There is
old, family crisis’s, it can happen to all of us.” a waiting list with more than the double num-
ber of registrations than the current number of
clients. With more support they can obviously
The foundation is a well-oiled organization and help more people. FNPC works together with
it is much more than just handing out food the Social Affairs department in the govern-
packages. Jareth: ‘We provide registered cli- ment and is also the overarching foundation
ents with food packages, we offer ad-hoc 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).