Presentation of Volunteer Medal to Ms. Hedwig Vroomen

On Friday, March 21, 2025, Mayor Suzanne Otters - Bruijnen will present the Volunteer Medal to Mrs. Hedwig Vroomen during the Volunteer Night.

The Volunteer Medal is awarded every year as a token of appreciation. Both residents and non-residents who have rendered selfless service to the Son en Breugel community in any area of social life are eligible.

Hedwig Vroomen has an impressive record of service. She has volunteered for many years in various fields, focusing on various charities. 

Helping people who can use it

For over 20 years Hedwig Vroomen has been committed to helping minima and other people, in Son en Breugel and beyond, who could use a helping hand.
Starting in 2007, she collected food for the food bank on a weekly basis. Since then she has never stopped collecting all kinds of things (including clothes, stuffed animals, books and crockery) to give away to people who can use them.
Over the years, collecting and giving away items has grown from a cabinet in her front yard, through a spot in the freezer house on the Triangle, to a walk-in store of her own in the old Vestzaktheater. The "Almost Free Thrift Store" is open from noon to 4 p.m. every Saturday. Outside of opening hours, she spends many hours each week working on her store. Her store has also become a social gathering place for many. 

In addition, Ms. Vroomen donates many items to the Salvation Army, the homeless shelter, the Social Solidarity foundation, the Opkikker foundation, the animal shelter, asylum seekers centers, KNGF Guide Dogs, the KIKA foundation and the De Sprinkplank foundation, among others. For 15 years she has also been bringing clothes, food and toiletries to vagrants in Eindhoven.

Engagement with other organizations

From 2018 to the present, Hedwig Vroomen dedicated herself in various ways to veterans in Son and Breugel. She was treasurer for some time and did the bookkeeping at the organization Veterans Son and Breugel. She also helps veterans in various ways: she organizes outings, provides Christmas hampers and visits veterans during holidays, birthdays and in case of illness or moving to a nursing home.

Since 2019, Ms. Vroomen has been active as a volunteer with De Zonnebloem in Son en Breugel. She regularly visits a number of regular guests, keeps in touch with them and accompanies them to activities and outings. Also during the outings and activities, she performs various hand - and help services. 

As of 2020, Hedwig Vroomen is also active as a driver for Automaatje, affiliated with the SonenBreugelVerbindt foundation. She regularly drives older or less mobile people to, for example, the supermarket, the food bank, the hospital or a doctor.