"We give these elderly people a nice evening. The lady in wheelchair who I pushed during GLOW last year told me that she had not been in the city for 5 years. If all my colleagues give a few hours of their time to a good cause, you can really make a difference to these elderly people through this attention."
Thomas Leenders of Signify
Signify volunteers and Vitalis residents enjoy GLOW together
Just imagine... you lived in Eindhoven for years. Cycling to the market or school, with your children at the front and back. You discussed life's ups and downs with neighbours, friends, colleagues and family. The weather, your holiday, which guest was in Sonja Barend's house. And then. Your children have left home and your partner may have died. When you are around 80 and dependent on help from others to get up, get dressed and eat, going outside becomes more and more rare.
Over 150 employees of Signify (formerly Philips Lighting) therefore took residents of Vitalis Woon Zorg in wheelchairs to GLOW on November 12 and 13, 2018. Armed with blankets and enjoying liveliness in the city along the way. 'We give these elderly people a nice evening,' explains Thomas Leenders of Signify. 'The lady in wheelchair that I pushed last year told me that she hadn't been in the city for 5 years. If all my colleagues give a few hours of their time to a good cause, you can really make a difference for these elderly people through this attention.'
Judith Hovener, volunteer coordinator at Vitalis, is also enthusiastic about working with these corporate volunteers. 'Vitamin A of attention not only creates a smile on the face of our residents, but I also see the volunteers enjoying themselves. This one-on-one attention is so valuable. Volunteers are therefore indispensable.'
Socially involved entrepreneurs
More and more companies are embracing corporate social responsibility (CSR). Samen voor Eindhoven mobilises volunteers from the business community to give their time and talent for a good cause. ASML, Coöperatie DELA, DAF, De Meeuw, DLL, NXP, Philips, Holland Casino, Rabobank Eindhoven-Veldhoven and Signify, among others, give their employees the opportunity to volunteer.
Studio040 beautifully captured the 'rolling GLOW' evenings.
Nel, one of the lovely residents of Vitalis, talks so enthusiastically about how she was able to experience the GLOW walk on Monday evening, November 12, thanks to employees of Signify. 'Fan-tas-tastic'!
In people with dementia, the processing of information in the brain is disturbed. A group of residents of WoonincPlusVitalis Wilgenhof, with dementia, also enjoyed GLOW together with Signify volunteers.
Photos: Bart Pook
