Hundreds of Rotterdam residents will receive a free emergency package through the Food Bank in the coming months. This is an initiative of the municipality. Rotterdam is the first municipality to distribute emergency packages in this way to people with limited financial means. Really a little gift, yes, thats how I see it.

She was already saving for it, she says. Such an emergency package. But Louisa Ofide currently does not have much to spend. She explains that she got into financial trouble partly due to a high energy bill.

During this period, she is dependent on the Food Bank. But recently my 19-year-old daughter started talking about such an emergency package. That we should actually have it at home. You want to be able to follow the news if something happens. So yes, we were setting money aside for it.

Peace of Mind

That is no longer necessary now. On Wednesday afternoon in Crooswijk, Louisa received an emergency package from alderwoman Abigail Norville. Being well prepared for an emergency should not be a luxury, she said during the distribution moment.

She hopes the emergency packages also give people some peace of mind. Because if you have less to spend, you already have so much on your mind. Then you have no room for this at all.

Package

In the coming weeks, all more than 2,000 Rotterdam Food Bank clients will receive an emergency package. It contains, among other things, an emergency radio, a rescue blanket, candles and matches, a bottle of water, and a first aid kit. People can then supplement it themselves with, for example, non-perishable food and extra water.

The Rotterdam Food Bank is pleased with the action. If you live in poverty, you are actually already in an emergency situation, says chairperson Helma Beker. If you then have to choose between buying food or an emergency radio, the choice is quickly made.

Think Ahead

Distributing the emergency packages through Food Bank locations is an initiative of the municipality. It ties in with the public campaign Resilience, which is a local implementation of the national Think Ahead campaign.

The goal of both campaigns is the same: to encourage people to better prepare for an emergency. Having an emergency package at home is an important first step according to the government.

Louisa Ofide will go home on Wednesday with a relieved feeling. Its really a little gift, she says about the received package. I already sent my daughter a message that we have our emergency package.

More Information

Would you like to know what you can do to prepare for an emergency? Visit rotterdam.nl/bereidjevoor. Or visit denkvooruit.nl. Link opens an external page.

Do you have financial worries? The municipality can help. See what is possible at rotterdam.nl/geldzorgen.