Heart under the belt for 3,500 lonely seniors in Eindhoven

Receiving hearts on Valentine's Day, who wouldn't want that? The number of lonely people is growing considerably. That's why Samen voor Eindhoven started the Heart Warming Together campaign with Lenny Kuhr as ambassador. Vitamin A of attention is more important than ever in these times. At 23 residential care centers locations of Archipel, OKTOBER and Vitalis, over 3,500 residents received a bag containing hearts on Valentine's Day 2021. Hearts as cookies, baked by the daycare center of Groendomein Wasven, a card with a heartwarming poem and a heart as a greeting card. On this heart the elderly write a wish. Together for Eindhoven mapped all wishes in April, hundreds of wishes. Together with company volunteers from ASML, DLL, NXP and Philips, among others, we are fulfilling these wishes. As soon as it is possible again in terms of corona measures. Walking together, cooking together or a wish of your own. Mrs. Bep wanted to buy wool so she could knit again, Mrs. Does wanted to be painted by an artist and so it happened: Antonie de Rooij made a beautiful portrait. Two residents of Archipel Landrijt would like to visit the Philips Museum as soon as the museums reopen. None other than Hans de Jong, President of Philips Netherlands, took these two residents along as 'VIPs'.
Together for Eindhoven, together with the residential care centers and Brainport companies involved, ensures that the wishes come true.

Residents hung their wishes in a so-called wishing tree, which can be found in all 23 homes. People with a distance to the labour market made these sustainable wishing trees at the Uit de Buurtfabriek foundation.

The power of local cooperation

"Doing nothing is not an option, even in times of lockdown we do what is still possible for people and foundations that need it" explains Esther Hofstede from Samen voor Eindhoven. "The daytime activities of two social organisations turned to baking biscuits and making wishing trees for 3 residential care organisations. We bring employees of companies together with lonely people to make their wishes come true. This gives everyone moments of happiness, because doing something good makes you feel proven happier".

Jolanda Bekkers, coordinator voluntary work at Archipel:

"We are very happy with the wishing tree and the bags with biscuits and wishing hearts for the people who live in Archipel's nursing homes. In these times, some extra attention is very welcome. The connection that was made between this group of people and the volunteers from the business community by Samen van Eindhoven is unique. It is truly heart-warming that the business community makes the wishes of our residents come true in this way, now or in the near future. With great thanks to all the efforts of Judith Helderman."

Heart warming together

Together with its partners from business, municipality and civil society organizations, Together for Eindhoven has developed the Heart Warming Together program. The program involves being in action from the Heart,Warming Together with all partners in the city to achieve CSR goals, contribute to the realization of the Global Goals and employing more corporate volunteers. Together for Eindhoven dreams of a closer and happier Brainport and works towards this by building a bridge between companies, civil society organizations and local government to ensure a society where everyone can participate.

With thanks to our involved partners ASML and DELA Fonds. Thanks to donations Hartverwarmend Samen has become reality!

Lenny Kuhr visits her 'old' neighbour from Eindhoven (now a resident of Vitalis Peppelrode).

His wish to meet Lenny again came true.

A heart-warming meeting, being together again for a while, musical and neighbourhood memories. 🧡

#heart warming together

Sweathearts for lonely elderly

At Groendomein Wasven last spring, the people of the day care center baked 10,000 delicious, even gold-winning, heart-shaped cookies. In the store of the Wasven (Celebeslaan 30, Eindhoven) you could buy these sweethearts heart cookies for € 10. Three packages of these cookies went to elderly people in Eindhoven during the summer. The cookies were delivered to the elderly through senior citizens association KBO-Brabant. A warm gesture with vitamin A of ... attention.