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The Samaritans Not-for-profit Org.
Chaussée de Haecht 1016
1140 Brussels
+32 (0)472 330 330
+32 (0)2 243 08 48
info@the-samaritans.org
ING 310-1585585-12
End-of-year action
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Why do we organize this end-of-year party? Simply because in our society, there are - apart from the needy and the homeless about whom we have already talked - several people who are lonely, who have no family left, or who have a low income. They too deserve some joy and happiness in a festive and family-style environment in this period.
This evening is different from our regular Tuesday evening actions. It is a TRUE festive meal, with a starter and a hot main dish, generously offered by the caterer " L' Autre Concept - L' Auberge Pittoresque" in Rhode-St.-Genese, as well as a desert, offered by the " Fortis Foundation".
A party without drinks is not a party. Therefore, we also offer soft-drinks, which have been collected since New Year's eve of 2003-2004 by students of the International School of Brussels.
And who can imagine a New Year's party without presents? Therefore, we organize every year a collection of "shoeboxes", supported by several media, companies, and schools (whose number keeps on increasing steadily).
How exactly does this work?
The "shoeboxes" is a project in 5 easy steps, a simple recipe as you will see.
- Take one or more empty shoeboxes.
- Fill each box with candy and foods that can be consumed immediately (e.g. gingerbread, biscuits, chocolate, small tin cans that can easily be opened by hand, soft drinks, etc.)
- Wrap in a nice wrapping paper.
- Add a card wish some personal wishes.
- This then becomes a wonderful present which you can drop off at one of our collection points. You can find a list of these collection points in the section "Collection Points Shoeboxes".
At the end of the meal these shoeboxes will all be distributed among the people present.
Please also remember the most faithful friends of our homeless and needy people, their dogs, for whom we also collect food and candy. Please do not put those items in the shoeboxes as we distribute them throughout the entire year.
For the last few years we have extended this party also to the children of our needy friends. In the corridor of Central Station we roll out a carpet on which we put toys and books. Under the supervision of our volunteers (most of them teachers or educators), the children can play, read, and eat here. One of the highlights of the evening is when the children return home with all their new toys and books, supplemented with a bit of candy.
Every year, about 300 to 400 people come to this End-of-Year party.
As a result of this event, our volunteers literally feel what it means to "care for someone". The feelings and emotions that are created by this event are therefore also very strong and lasting.