It has been helping the needy since 2009, but now the social fund of the Algarve diocese is empty. The situation has been communicated by the president of Caritas Diocesana do Algarve, reports Correio da Manhã newspaper, which adds that the last tranche of money – a total of €9,553 – was distributed on December 12.
Speaking to the newspaper, Carlos Oliveira explained that Caritas had donated €40,749 from its social fund this year – and since 2011, the amount distributed ran to €131,000 – all of it going to answer “calls for help” by local families.
Almost all Caritas’ money has been used to pay rents that are owed, medical requirements, prescriptions for glasses and university fees, Oliveira explained.
The fund, which up until now has existed thanks to private donations and cash injections from local priests, was set up to help victims of the crisis, with special emphasis given to the unemployed.
