Serve the City Tilburg

This week we would like to put Serve te City in the spotlight. They are a volunteer organization by students in Tilburg. Normally they organize year-round activities for the underprivileged and needy. In this time of the Corona crisis, they are committed to the at-risk groups. We spoke with Despina de Werd, the chairman of Serve the City Tilburg.

Serve the City does not want to sit still now that everyone has to stay inside. Especially now they want to continue their efforts to help people. Because of the virus, their planned activities cannot continue. That is why there is time left to do some good for people who need it. However, the organization cannot do this alone. That is why they have asked for the help of other students in Tilburg. Many students shared the same way of thinking as Serve the City. Within no time a group of over 250 students had signed up to help. This is very impressive.

Serve the City works on many cases. They keep in contact with the RIVM and strictly follow the guidelines that are given. An example of one of the requests for help is "OUR soup". Linda of ONS Tilburg started this initiative. But because it has grown so much in such a short time, the organization of Serve the City decided to lend a hand here. Together they now make food for more than 200 people. This food is then also delivered to the door. This is especially for people who can't leave home now or for people in vital functions who don't have time to cook. Every day 10 to 15 students go here to help and deliver the meals. Despina says that so far they have only had positive and grateful reactions. People are very happy with the help and the contact they have at the front door (on 1.5m distance). Anne-Marie Bayens is one of the people who receive food at the front door of the students of Serve the City, "I am so happy to see people again". Mrs. Bayens is confined to her home due to health problems. Her granddaughter regularly puts groceries in front of the door. Fortunately, she can count on the support of Serve the City and she is very happy with that.

Other jobs Serve the City students do are for example shopping, delivering meals or calling lonely people for a chat. Would you also like to help? Then sign up via the website.

We are very proud of the organization of Serve the City to take the lead and of the students who put their best foot forward in this bizarre time. Keep up the good work and take care of yourself!