Five days a week, Annalies can be found at the HUB, Quooker’s distribution center in Heijplaat. As a cleaning employee, she ensures there is coffee and lunch for her colleagues, manages supplies, keeps the workplace clean, and organizes the monthly happy hour. After a busy workday, there is often much more work waiting for her at home. “Sometimes I have nine or ten garbage bags in my house that need sorting,” she says. “They are filled with clothes donated by people who no longer wear them. I sort what can still be used, organize everything by size, and wash anything that isn’t clean.”

From personal experience Annalies gives the clothing to families in need, who come to her home to collect it. Over the years, her “client base” has grown significantly. “There is a huge demand. Ten bags of clothing may sound like a lot, but it’s gone in no time. Many families are struggling right now.” She knows what that feels like. “I went through a period when I had financial difficulties myself. During that time, people in my apartment building helped me,” she explains. “That meant a lot to me. As soon as I was in a better place, I started helping others.” She began volunteering eleven years ago at a clothing bank. When it closed, she continued the work with a friend.

A big heart for others Once she has distributed all the clothing and her home is temporarily clear again, the collecting process starts all over. She receives bags of clothes from family and friends, and her Quooker colleagues also contribute. As soon as she has built up a good supply, she sends a message to the families, who usually arrive at her door quickly. “I don’t just give away clothes, I also offer a listening ear. People want to share their stories and know I won’t judge them. Sometimes I hear heartbreaking stories, and it feels good to make someone happy with a bag of clothes, a warm winter coat, or toys for their children.”

Annalies spends ten to fifteen hours a week on her volunteer work and wouldn’t want it any other way. “Sometimes I get calls during work about clothing or toys, but there’s a lot of understanding for that at Quooker. Recently, there were leftover apples, and I was given them to bake an apple pie for one of the families I support. Quooker is a company with a big social heart, and that’s why I feel so at home here.”

Published on 04-12-2024