Maria Unpack!

Marria unpacks at Stichting Jarige Job Your birthday, the most important day of the year! Marria remembers very well how it used to feel to have a birthday. She was quite introverted and a little shy as a child, but not on her birthday. That was her special day, a day when she could shine all day long! Marria: 'Your birthday is a very important day for every child, a day that really needs to be celebrated. When it's your birthday you are the center of attention and you can feel special all day long.' Even when she became a mother herself, she held on to that thought and always went wild on her son's birthday: 'Singing birthday songs while the birthday boy is standing on a chair. It's all part of it!' Your birthday is a very important day for every child, a day that really should be celebrated. Volunteer at the Birthday Job Foundation When Marria came home 6 years ago due to a reorganization, she immediately decided to look for volunteer work. Because doing nothing was not an option! She committed herself to various organizations and via Zorgzaam010 (at that time still Rotterdamvoorelkaar) ended up at the Jarige Job Foundation – then still located at the old location on the Keileweg. Marria: 'I have seen a lot of changes in the past 6 years at Jarige Job, a group of friends who devoted themselves to children's birthdays grew into a national organization. During that time we moved from our location at the Food Bank Rotterdam to our own location on the Van Nelle site. As a volunteer I have done everything from administrative tasks to assessing and processing birthday box requests by parents and social workers. As the organization grew, the role of volunteers also changed. For example, you can work as an ambassador to tell the story of Birthday Job at schools and events, or you can supervise groups of colleagues as a Super Job Coach who come to pack birthday boxes in the Van Nelle factory. I am now in my place in the role of tackler in the warehouse. I work 1 or 2 days a week and sort donated gifts by age and gender. I'm just a cleaner!' No day is the same at the Jarige Job Foundation. It's a party every day! Why this foundation? Marria: 'No day is the same at the Jarige Job Foundation. The location alone looks special and every day is a party. Everyone who visits the warehouse likes to be there, that can't be otherwise with the festive decor! Events such as the 'Packing Marathon' (24 hours of wrapping birthday boxes) and 'Dating with your Heart' (speed dating event on Valentine's Day) are a real joy to participate in. At Jarige Job you meet a lot of nice and interesting people and everyone is here with the same thought: every child deserves a birthday. Because birthdays are important! That is why I think it is so special to volunteer for the Jarige Job Foundation.' This year, the Jarige Job Foundation expects to deliver around 80,000 birthday boxes. These birthday boxes are distributed throughout the Netherlands, often through local food banks. A considerable logistical challenge! Do you also want to work as a volunteer for the Jarige Job Foundation and make a difference for children in poverty? Visit the profile of Stichting Jarige Job for more information about the different volunteer roles and sign up! Share these stories and inspire others to help too! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Whatsapp Forward

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