A total of 435 furniture packages, packed into two, 40-foot shipping containers, were distributed to those in need by Care 4 the Kids of St. Maarten Foundation and Make St. Maarten Great Again over the course of two recent weekends.
The two organizations came together to distribute beds, chairs and couches to families that lost their furniture in the passing of Hurricane Irma.
The announcement of the free furniture was circulated through the school systems. Families had to register and were given a time to pick up relief packages at Little League Ballpark on Pond Island. The furniture was sponsored by Kwantum and Leen Bakker.
Care 4 the Kids of St. Maarten
Care 4 the Kids of St. Maarten was founded by Tjandra Lake and Dorian Neijs in response to Hurricane Irma. “The foundation’s goal is to support parents by offering day programmes and also mental support for the children, if needed,” said Neijs. “By doing this in the weekends we hope to create fun-filled days for the kids and create room and time for the parents to restore their lives.”
The foundation’s two creators are new to the island. Nine months ago Neijs, a social worker, and Lake, a project manager, came to St. Maarten to see if they could adjust to island life. When Irma struck they were in The Netherlands on a holiday to make final arrangements for the move.
“The images and the stories of family and friends broke our hearts,” said Neijs. “We decided there was only one thing that we could do and that was to help the children and their parents.” Within a week they had established their foundation.
“Although our main focus and goal when we came back on the island was to provide facilities in the weekend for the younger ones, we saw that there was still a big need in primary aid. So we adapted to this,” explained Neijs.
Their primarily focus was on distribution of fresh meals, water and hygiene packages. They distributed more than 100 customized packages for children that included clothes, pampers, baby food, milk powder, Brinta, baby wipes and toys.
“All of the work we were able to do was in close co-operation with “Make St. Maarten Great Again,” Seventh Day Adventist Soup Kitchen, The Youth Department and members of the Rotary Club,” said Neijs.
Their final project of the year will be the distribution of 600 bags for children, packed by children in The Netherlands. The schoolbags will include personal notes and are full of exciting things. This initiative was set up in co-operation with the Proregeschool in Amsterdam. “We would like to end this year on a positive note, whilst at the same time connecting the children with each other” said Neijs.
Make St Maarten Great Again
The Make St Maarten Great Again campaign was founded by a group of young professionals of St Maarten descent living in The Netherlands. The main purpose of this campaign was to provide relief aid to the Island.
The campaign started at AAA Gallery, based in the heart of Rotterdam. Within no time it became a national campaign with over 41 locations throughout the Netherlands. “We broadcast a message of items people could donate,” said Myrle Scarborough. Our main focus was non-perishable food, water, clothes, hygiene products.”
Make St. Maarten Great Again team members Patrick Marcelino, Cerasela Somersall and Scarborough flew to St. Maarten to oversee the distribution of five, 40ft containers of relief supplies. “Our first distribution round mainly focused on preschools and the elderly,” said Scarborough. We also worked together with the Yellow and White Cross, SMMC, Prime, ACE, SEGDA, Sunshine Foundation, and. of course, Care 4 the Kids of St. Maarten Foundation.”
