Eating together is enjoyable and important, especially for the elderly. It promotes social contacts and contributes to a pleasant, engaged neighborhood. In Rotterdam, there are many neighborhood or care restaurants where you can eat well for little money and meet other people. However, not everywhere has such restaurants. The welfare organization DOCK has now come up with something for that.
Mobile Kitchen
With funding from the municipality of Rotterdam, DOCK has built a kitchen in a delivery van: the Mobile Kitchen DOCK to Go. This mobile kitchen brings warmth and fresh meals to places without a fixed cooking facility. For example, at elderly complexes with a meeting space but without their own kitchen. Or Community Houses. Residents can enjoy a healthy lunch or dinner together here.
Means a lot
On Monday, May 19, Alderman Buijt (of Care and Elderly) officially opened the mobile kitchen. This took place at the elderly flat Sneep in Hoogvliet. For the residents, this means a lot, says Hans, a resident himself. Eating together enhances the atmosphere and living comfort. It brings people closer together.
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Experienced Volunteers
Indonesian, Surinamese, stamppot, rijsttafel: we can make most things! We are all-round! laughs volunteer Betty. She has had a catering business for 30 years and now dedicates herself to the elderly as a retiree. Together with Leander, she is in the bus today. I am a mentor at the Community House Zevensprong. There I cook and guide other people in the kitchen, says Leander.
Electric and Self-Sufficient
The Dock to Go bus is electric and fully self-sufficient. It is flexibly deployable and also available for rent for events in Rotterdam. The bus will be present in June at the Dutch Championship G-tennis for people with disabilities. The income from the rental pays for the maintenance and insurance of the mobile kitchen. Besides Betty and Leander, many other volunteers work. And extra hands are welcome.
More Information
For more information or questions, you can contact Manuela Jongeneel at 06 - 59956259 or Jacqueline Bleukens at 06 - 59902142