FREEGAN Foundation Nominated for the 2026 National Volunteer Awards in the Netherlands

GREAT BAY--FREEGAN Foundation has been nominated for the 2026 National Volunteer Awards in the Netherlands, placing the St. Maarten-based organization among 66 selected nominees from 322 entries submitted by volunteer organizations and community initiatives.

The nomination already guarantees FREEGAN Foundation an award of €1,000. From among the 66 nominees, five organizations will be selected to receive €3,000, while one organization will receive the €10,000 grand prize. The top award recipients will be announced during the national awards ceremony in Ede, the Netherlands, on Friday, September 18.

The National Volunteer Awards recognize organizations that demonstrate the meaningful contribution volunteers make to society. Participating organizations were asked this year to show how their volunteers create social impact, how their work benefits their communities and why that contribution matters.

FREEGAN Foundation was nominated for its work supporting individuals and families across St. Maarten through its client-choice food market, food rescue activities, weekly meals, thrift store, coaching, classes, workshops and other community programs. Much of the foundation’s work is made possible by volunteers who consistently give their time, talents and energy to support others.

“To be selected from 322 organizations is already an incredible honor,” said DJ de Jong, Managing Director and co-founder of FREEGAN Foundation. “This nomination belongs to every volunteer who has stood beside us, sorted food, prepared meals, welcomed families, worked in our thrift store, taught a class or simply offered someone a listening ear. Their commitment is the heart of FREEGAN.”

The nomination carries particular meaning for the foundation because it brings wider recognition to volunteer work taking place in St. Maarten and places local community service alongside initiatives from elsewhere in the Dutch Kingdom.

“Small islands are sometimes overlooked, but the challenges our community faces are real, and so is the difference our volunteers make every single week,” De Jong added. “We are extremely proud that the work being done on St. Maarten is now being recognized on a national level.”

FREEGAN’s client-choice food market is among the foundation’s most visible community initiatives, allowing individuals and families to select food items that best suit their household needs. The approach is intended to provide practical assistance while preserving dignity and giving clients greater choice in the support they receive.

The foundation also carries out food rescue activities aimed at preventing usable food from going to waste and redirecting it to people who can use it. Its weekly meals, thrift store, coaching activities, classes, workshops and other programs form part of a broader effort to support families while strengthening connections within the community.

Volunteers play a central role throughout those activities. Their work ranges from collecting and sorting food to preparing meals, assisting customers and families, supporting educational activities, working in the thrift store and offering personal support to people who may simply need someone willing to listen.

For FREEGAN, the nomination is therefore being viewed as recognition not only of the organization itself, but of the volunteers who make its programs possible.

Regardless of the outcome of the September 18 ceremony, FREEGAN Foundation will receive €1,000 as one of the 66 nominated organizations. The remaining results will determine which five nominees receive €3,000 and which organization is selected for the €10,000 grand prize.

The foundation said any funding received through the awards will further support its work in the St. Maarten community and help strengthen programs aimed at reducing poverty, rescuing food and assisting families.

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