'A warm scarf with a story'
The statues at the PSV stadium and Anton Philips in front of the train station will also receive a knitted orange scarf, knitted by residents of Zorggroep Archipel, to kick off the coat collection campaign. Families living in poverty in our city; it is more topical than ever, partly due to high energy prices. The number of homeless people is also still increasing. This is why Samen voor Eindhoven is collecting warm coats again for the sixth year in a row. Actor, presenter and committed Eindhoven resident Mike Weerts kicked off the action and donated his warm coat and the coats of his children. In a vlog he calls on people to hand in their coats at one of the collection points.
The collection campaign runs until October 19. On Oct. 20, more than 1,500 winter coats will be distributed to 11 charities in Eindhoven, including Kledingbank Eindhoven, Dress for Success, Ervaring die Staat, Inloophuis 't Hemeltje, and Leger des Heils. Organizations such as ASML, DAF, DELA, DLL, Eindhoven Airport, High Tech Campus, Philips, NXP and more are collecting warm coats, hats, scarves and gloves through Wednesday, Oct. 19. "Very useful for especially homeless people in our city but also for newcomers from Ukraine who are taken care of in Eindhoven."
Winterproof
"Thanks to companies collecting coats and the vlog of Mike Weerts - who was the first to donate this year - this coat action reaches many people who like to do some good," said Marbritta van Boldrik of Samen voor Eindhoven. "Children in Eindhoven who live below the poverty line and go to school with shoes that are too small or without a fitting coat, that unfortunately really happens. We want everyone in Eindhoven to be winter-proof. Thanks to vlogs by well-known fellow citizens of the city such as previously Theo Maassen and Björn van der Doelen, a snowball effect is created on social media. And that's something the current theme of poverty could use. As Mike Weerts says: especially now that people no longer turn on heating inside and are also dressed extra warmly inside."
"Because no one should be cold," explains Maaike de Jonge of Samen voor Eindhoven. "A scarf with a story," is how De Jonge describes the action. Jolanda Bekkers, coordinator of voluntary work at Archipel Landrijt, immediately arranged for enthusiastic clients to knit for the good cause. Knitting club The Ticking Needles at Archipel has been knitting heavily since the summer. Besides a coat and scarf, the new owner also finds a handwritten card as an extra warm gesture. Mike Weerts wrote one in advance: "Dear new wearer of my coat. I hope you will enjoy it but most of all warmth.'