Community Coming Together
As you probably know, The Algarve Emporium Charity Team work tirelessly to help the families in Tunes but we couldn’t do it on our own. We are helped by so very many people.
This blog is focusing on several fun, social activity groups and how they have helped us, in recent months.
Tennis in Portugal (Almancil)
Just before Christmas Tracy Braun organised a food donation drop off point at her Tennis club. We were given lots of fabulous goodies that could be added to the Christmas food hampers. In addition to that there were lots of staples that help in our weekly food bags that we hand out.
Thank you to the club members. ❤️
Ladies Wot Lunch (Alte)
These amazing ladies hold regular social lunches. While they are having fun they raise money for charity. We were absolutely delighted for representatives of this social group to come to our Santa, children’s party to see what they helped to make happen. They gave us 100€ to add to the children’s Christmas stockings. And when I say stockings, they were actually large bags filled with treats, small gifts, sweets, chocolates, fruit etc.
Always grateful for your help ❤️
Algarve Ladies Lunch (ALL)
ALL is run by Pat & Libby. They hold lunches all across the Algarve where lots of ladies get together and enjoy food, fun and friendly conversation. The last event I attended with them was for 80 ladies.
There are, at the lunches, stalls selling all sorts of goods at these events and the diners have time to browse before and after the meal. Such a warm and welcoming social group.
What an amazing group of ladies! During 2023 we have received generous cash donations, food donations and been allowed to sell donated goods at their lunch event to raise goods.
Ladies, you do an amazing job ❤️
Foral Larga Vista Associação de Moradores
I was wonderfully surprised to be invited to Join their Christmas meal and have an opportunity to tell them about our charity. Foral is about 5km from Tunes so what we do is very much in the members locality.
There was a raffle, the proceeds of which were donated to Algarve Emporium Charity. We were given 526€ and that paid for the bacalhau for all of our Christmas hampers and for some of the bottles of olive oil too. Each year we give Christmas food hampers to our families and the fish is a very important part of it.
How wonderful that a community comes together in this way to help struggling Portuguese families.
Thank you for your generosity ❤️
Silves Keep Fit
Chris Michie runs a keep fit class in Silves and they recently gave us an amazing 500€ to help our families. This paid the entire bill to buy food for our families for one week.
At this group, which has been running for 20 years now, there are usually about 10 or 12 people in each class. Ages range 45 to 85 years old but mostly people in their 60’s & 70’s. They are charged 5€ per session and after paying the cost of the room hire the remaining cash is given to charities that help people.
Since Chris began running the group in 2015 they have given over 8,000€ to a broad range ofcauses. From children’s homes to old people’s homes. Big organisations such as Bombeiros & Red Cross to small local projects. Riding for the Disabled to Messines Gymnastics Club. They give money to feed people and money for dental treatment.
What an amazing group of ladies! They exercise with enthusiasm and also do so much good.
Beyond grateful ❤️
Algarve Crochet & Knitting Cabin
This time we were helped by Sheena Rawcliffe’s craft group. These talented ladies who meet on a Tuesday in Armação de Pêra made and donated, to Algarve Emporium Charity, hand crocheted blankets, toys, accessories and cushions that helped to launch our “Handmade Exclusively For” range at BLiP 2023 (AFPOP’s autumn exhibition).
Ladies, please accept my gratitude ❤️
If you would like to know more about any of these social groups send a message and I can supply contact details.