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Omroep Zeeland, August 3, 2025. Charity party draws thousands to Renesse: "Fortunately, it's very busy again." Around 2,500 people gather in Renesse to enjoy mussels and barbecued meat. With the 15th edition of the Summer Charity Party, the organizers hope to raise €35,000 this year. Every year, the volunteers go a little bigger, says initiator Marieke Braber-Schot. "People enjoy it. More people join every year, and it gets bigger every year." The event started with 50 people signing up. "The following year, there were 150, and that number has actually doubled every year." "This year, two extra inflatables have been arranged, and there are 30 more tables than last year. Stop. Despite the success, Braber-Schot has sometimes considered quitting, as she runs a campsite in addition to organizing the benefit party. That's a challenging combination during peak season, she says. "But then a group of volunteers stepped up to help us in the winter as well. And last year, we raised money so easily. We were hoping for €18,000, but it ended up being €28,000. You just have to keep going." A little further on, parents are still enjoying the afterglow with a glass of wine. They chat at long picnic tables. Meanwhile, the children can have a blast on the bouncy castle playground. The party is best known for its mussels, but for meat lovers, there's also chicken satay or a hamburger with fries. Volunteer Joppa van den Houten is the chicken satay chef today. "I've always been a butcher," she says proudly as she flips the meat again. Volunteers. Joppa has been a volunteer at the benefit event for 15 years. "I went there for dinner once, and the enthusiasm infected me so much that I signed up as a volunteer." Miranda Bouwman, who hands out mussels at the mussel stall, has also been a volunteer for a long time. "But I don't know exactly how long," she laughs. There's a long line at the stall. "Fortunately, it's very busy again. It's also for a wonderful cause." Holiday. All proceeds from the day will go to the Thuredriht holiday home foundation, which organizes holidays for families with a seriously ill child. "That cause is fantastic," says visitor Esther Fokkelman from Goeree-Overflakkee, just finishing her bowl of mussels. "It's all well organized, the food is delicious. I'll definitely do it again." The event will take place again next year. Initiator Braber-Schot hopes to welcome 3,000 people next year. “We are thinking of adding a market to it,” she says. |