Thanks to donors, we can provide professional and efficient assistance

"Thanks to the Local Support Action, we received from our donors, a wonderful yield. Partly because of this we can provide professional and efficient aid."A conversation with Dirk van Beem, chairman of Hamme department.

Gratitude and significance of support
Thanks to the support of the Local Support Action, Red Cross-Hamme can continue and strengthen its operation. "Every donation, big or small, makes a difference! Thank you to all donors for your contribution to our local Red Cross operation."

Concrete difference for the operation
"The financial support ensures that our volunteers can perform their tasks with the right resources. For example, we were recently able to invest in new CPR manikins and AED training equipment. This purchase was much needed: the demand for First Aid courses continues to grow and our equipment was in urgent need of replacement. With the new equipment, we can teach more classes with better and more efficient equipment."

Saving lives in practice
"The impact of these investments is immediate. For example, a few weeks later, a participant in our AED training course was able to successfully resuscitate a jogger in his mid-thirties. Today that same young man can resume his sporting life, with a built-in defibrillator. Such stories show how important training and good equipment are."

Cooperation and efficient use
"The new material is not only used in Hamme, but also by our colleagues in Waasmunster and Temse. This way we make the material maximally available and support departments that have fewer resources or instructors themselves. The Local Administration of Hamme is also actively cooperating: in the meantime, no less than 90% of their employees have received First Aid training, far above the required 10%."

Volunteers at work
"Our volunteers are the heart of our operation. For them, a good atmosphere is crucial, but solid material is just as crucial. Involvement in purchases strengthens their motivation and enthusiasm. A good example is our new tent: more visible, lighter to set up and kinder to the backs of our aid workers. Small improvements make a big difference."

Satisfaction and future
"As chairman of the department, it is a source of pride to see how our volunteers get involved and build a strong operation together. The Hamme Branch has existed for 161 years, and we want to keep this long tradition alive. Volunteers as well as resources remain indispensable for this."

"In the future we remain committed to education, visibility and a warm volunteer operation. Support is always possible through the Local Support Action, the annual patch sale or occasional donations. Also during our courses or on the Auxiliary Day, everyone is welcome to get acquainted with our work."