“Thank you so much for the food bag; it was the first time this week I’ve had something to put on my bread” 

“Thank you so much for the food bag; it was the first time this week I’ve had something to put on my bread” and “I was at a tipping point: the walls were closing in, the Food Bank has less to offer and then, just in time you showed up with the bag.” These are just two of many responses Adam Helpt received to our food bag initiative, made possible by Salesforce.

A large international firm that supplies corporate client management software, Salesforce made the donation from the funds it normally spends on catering for its own staff. The company knew that we would ensure the money was used to support those that really need extra help in this difficult period.

People who were already vulnerable are struggling in these uncertain and troubling times. The Food Bank has less food to distribute, daily activities have been cancelled, and people’s opportunities to generate a little extra income have dried up. For some Amsterdam residents this means having literally nothing left over to spend on groceries.

“To these people, walking into the supermarket and filling up a shopping cart with tasty food and treats is a genuine luxury,” says Bouke Hartman, cluster manager of the Child and Family Goodwill Centres in Amsterdam. “And what do you do when you have no money but you still need food?”

“It was so wonderful to make myself some coffee without worrying about whether I’d have any tomorrow”

After receiving this generous donation from Salesforce we contacted the Salvation Army and made up the food bags. The groceries delivered to the Salvation Army facilities in the city centre were packed by volunteers – a grand total of 120 packages which included coffee, tea, cheese, eggs, butter, jam, and much more besides. “It was so wonderful to make myself some coffee without worrying about whether I’d have any tomorrow” and “Just delicious, I shared the cheese with my elderly neighbor,” were among the replies we received.

Adam Helpt and Serve the City are ready to distribute bags of groceries among the people who need it most via the Salvation Army. As Bouke Hartman stressed: “A bag of basic groceries is more than welcome among many people in Amsterdam.”

Would your company like to contribute to a project that benefits the most vulnerable groups in the city? Please contact us via [email protected] or call us on 020 244 0272. Together we can make the difference.

Written by: Nienke Vermeulen