Page 7 - ARUBA TODAY AUG 16 2022

a7
local Tuesday 16 augusT 2022
Fundacion Pa Nos Comunidad:

‘We will delive around 300 schoolbags for children this year’

ORANJESTAD – Our local reporter Back to School projects, with two part, but I see that also there are package, but their situation is still
went to visit the headquarters of of them I was able to do a match- other institutions busy with this and difficult. So the foundation works
Aruba’s food bank, Fundacion ing-list. Those are Mi Bos ta Bo Bos I think this is one of the reasons why hard for active, non-active and
Pa Nos Comunidad, situated in (My Voice is Your Voice), and also the amount decreased with us”, new clients.
the Club Kibrahacha, where they Interact Club of Aruba.” Mrs. Van der Biezen explains.
were busy preparing around 300 A marching-list is made in order to For the Back to School project,
schoolbags to hand out to under- avoid for example that one child This year, the foundation com- they had a lot of work on their
privileged children. This year they receives two bags and another is mented that it is noticeable how hands. They have some volunteers
have less schoolbags than previ- left without, because the lists of re- the community has been financial- who join them working long hours
ous years, according to the foun- cipients can get quite long. ly affected, that they noticed how and days in order to get every-
dation, but that doesn’t stop them for example, Fundacion pa Nos thing ready, to deliver everything
from working tirelessly to help the The foundation takes the clients Comunidad through Caliente FM on time so that all these children
community. who are register, or active and in- received less than they did other can have their items to begin the
active clients who receive pack- years. They received some dona- new school year with everything
Gianaika van der Biezen, director ages, but that the foundation is tions from Dijon Center, and ac- they need.
of the foundation, explained to our aware are going through hardship, cording to the foundation, thank-
reporter that Fundacion Pa Nos to give them a hand. The foun- fully they were able to receive vari- The value of all those who make
Comunidad has been organizing a dation does an intake in order to ous donations from people who a donation is a great contribution
‘Back to School’ project for twelve evaluate the financial situation to came to them and brought these to the success of the foundation.
years already, together with radio see if it is difficult for the parents donations. From Caliente FM they With the community’s generosity,
station Caliente FM, which con- to purchase school items. Primar- received more than 100 school- Fundacion Pa Nos Comunidad is
sists of organizing a Radiothon and ily the focus is on the backpack bags. From Interact Club of Aruba able to continue helping families in
connecting with local businesses with some items in it, and there they also received some dona- need on our island.
as well as the whole community are some children – a very small tions, and Digicel also collaborat-
in order to help underprivileged amount – who manage to get a ed with school items for the kids. The foundation finds it important
children to start school with a new school uniform for this school year, to remind the community that with
backpack and all the necessary that the foundation can help with. For the clients who are registered at your contribution to the founda-
materials. the foundation and already have tion, you encourage and bring
“It’s true that in the past there all their information registered, hope to many homes that are
Mrs. Van der Biezen said to our re- was more help with this, because they go easily through the process. going through difficult financial
porter that to be honest, this year I remember that there were years And for those who are not clients situations currently. Three words
they had less schoolbags than where we would hand out more of the foundation, the foundation describe this foundation: hope,
usual. “Normally we have a larger than 400, almost 500 schoolbags. carries out a financial review with care and encouragement, and to-
amount”, Mrs. Van der Biezen said, For sure two years ago we re- them to see if they are eligible. But gether these words are applied to
adding: “There are also many other ceived schoolbags from abroad, there were also clients for example the social service provided to the
institutions who are also busy with we had more businesses taking who are already receiving a food clients.