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                                                                                                           Wednesday 27 December 2017

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You Can Help Keeping Aruba Happy:

‘We Are Not Only a Food Bank, but

Help Reintegration into Society’

ORANJESTAD - Fundacion Pa Nos Comunidad                The foundation is a well-oiled organization and
(FPNC) means ‘Foundation for our Commu-                it is much more than just handing out food
nity’ in Papiamento. Goal of the foundation is         packages. Jareth: ‘We provide registered cli-
to fight poverty, mental emergency and social          ents with food packages, we offer ad-hoc
exclusion in the widest sense of the word. This        help with crisis packages to those in immedi-
is done regardless of nationality, religion or         ate need and we have participation projects
culture. It is the only official food bank in the is-  to help our clients reintegrate into society.” The
land. Aruba Today spoke with Jareth Vermeu-            last part is not to be underestimated as it is an
len, Project & Entrepreneur Coordinator of the         important focus for the foundation. “Clients
foundation. “There is poverty in the island and        can start here as a volunteer to learn getting
it is growing, it is not only happiness here. Most     into the working process again and after we
clients lost their job and fall hard. Young and        help them find a job or –if they are ready- we
old, family crisis’s, it can happen to all of us.”     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
                                                       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 favorite vacation island also happy for their inhabitants.
                                                                                                                      “For short time we are in need of elegant clothing that our cli-
                                                                                                                      ents can wear these holidays and also to job interviews. In regu-
                                                                                                                      lar 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).
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