It was in 2020, in the midst of the COVID pandemic, that Matthieu Van Riet, Head of Marketing and Communication at KBC Brussels, joined a Street Nurses team on outreach for a field report. That moment, he says, will remain etched in his memory. Even now, he gets a lump in his throat thinking back on it.
“What struck me most was how much your team restores the humanity of homeless people. On the street, you address your beneficiaries by their first names, and above all: you pause. A real pause to share a human moment — a quarter of an hour or more to drink a coffee and chat about anything and everything. Because your patients are not case files. They are human beings first and foremost, and you honour that. It’s admirable.”
For six years now, KBC Brussels has been one of the main partners of Street Nurses’ end-of-year campaign. Even if budgets aren’t always easy to allocate, the holistic and innovative approach of the organisation continues to build trust in their investment.
“From the very beginning of KBC Brussels, the #BetterForBrussels approach has reflected our DNA,” Matthieu explains. “We are the only 100% Brussels-based bank, and our values — solidarity, dignity, and social responsibility — align perfectly with yours. By financing part of your campaign, we aim to help ensure your continued impact. This campaign attracts new donors who, in turn, get involved. It’s our way of contributing.”
“We know your organisation inside and out,” Matthieu continues. “Your work is not a one-shot deal. The strength of your impact and your long-term follow-up means that our partnership has become truly meaningful for our staff.”
By supporting Street Nurses, KBC Brussels reaffirms its commitment to a more inclusive society — and hopes to inspire other actors in Brussels to do the same. As Matthieu Van Riet beautifully puts it: “Each of us can make a difference.”