This is just one of several reactions after the Kiwanis Club Øvre Eiker introduced the Experience Card in collaboration with the municipality and local businesses this spring. Here, families who are not doing well financially can receive help to participate in various events or dine out without it costing them an arm and a leg.
On Monday, there was a small summary of the project at the Maitree sushi restaurant in Hokksund. The location was not chosen randomly, as many have taken the opportunity to eat here with the card worth 500 kroner in discounts. A total of 37 cards have been used here, and more will follow as not all cards have been distributed yet.
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The Family Center, led by Laila Kvale Støstad, is responsible for determining who can receive this card. Neither Kiwanis nor other parties are informed about who has received it until they show it at the numerous places where it can be used in both Øvre Eiker and Drammen. One of the popular places to visit is Drammensbadet, but if you want to take your family there, it can cost a lot of money, and the subsidy is a great help. The same applies to bus tickets.
Wants to continue
Tore Hoen leads the Humanitarian Committee in Kiwanis in Øvre Eiker. He has no doubt that this project should be continued. However, for that to happen, they are completely dependent on the municipality and the subsidy they provided for the current year. The municipality sponsored the card with 200,000 kroner, and he is therefore asking for the same amount for next year, well aware that the municipal economy in Øvre Eiker is far from good.
The Experience Card has a total budget of 663,000 kroner if all are used. Of this, the municipality has sponsored 200,000, and 227,000 comes from various sponsors and stores participating in the scheme. The remaining amount is covered by Kiwanis, with these revenues coming from the sale of sandbags and other fundraising activities the club has.
Important for parents and children
There is no shortage of positive feedback to Laila and the Family Center. Here are two examples:
As a single dad to boys aged 11 and 15, becoming unemployed was very tough, so I got in touch with Laila at Friskliv here in the municipality, and it turned out they had something called the experience card for the boys and me. And it has saved a lot this summer. We have enjoyed bowling, the cinema, football matches, haircuts, and good food. And the bus pass will be used this fall. So thank you very much to Kiwanis and the municipality.
From a single father with two children: A boy and a girl have been to Mestringsgården, they have been to the cinema a few times and have bowled. Now we will check this out in the ski slope and try paddle. We will also try the pool. The girl will get her Christmas hairdo with Margareth. This is an incredible opportunity to have many wonderful experiences that the finances of a single father cannot afford without this card. Thank you very much for the chance to receive this card and have all these wonderful experiences.
Great need out there
For Laila and the Family Center, it is not difficult to find suitable “candidates” to receive this card, but it must be selected with care. The number is limited, but the need is great.
– We receive suggestions from the Child Welfare Services and the school nurses, in addition to those who visit us at the Family Center. There is a significant need for financial assistance, says Laila, hoping sincerely that they can continue the collaboration with Kiwanis next year.
Maitree and many other local businesses will certainly participate if there is a new round next year. For them, it means some extra sales, but also slightly delayed payments and some administration, as they have to submit a record of how many have used the card at each location.
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