A Christmas cake auction organised by the Algarve Resident has raised €250 which will help buy gifts and throw a party for the children of the Lar de Crianças Bom Samaritano in Alvor.
For one week, the Resident accepted bids for the cake on its Facebook page. The winning bid was presented by couple Mijoung and Karel de Regge, who picked up the cake from the Resident’s office on Tuesday.
Mijoung de Regge said: “I was speaking to my husband about what we should do to help others this Christmas and this initiative was perfect as we know we are supporting a very worthy local cause.”
The cake was handed over to the couple inside a sealed gift box for hygiene purposes, but the photo inset shows the stunning Christmas cake, which was baked by fundraiser Alison Firth’s mother Valerie.
“Her Christmas cake is a traditional rich fruit and nut cake, soaked with brandy and covered in marzipan and icing. It is 7.5 inches in diametre and weighs almost three kilos,” Alison told the Resident.
Alison is one of many volunteers who get together every year to support Lar de Crianças Bom Samaritano.
This year, an online charity drive has been launched in the hope of providing the children a happy Christmas.
As Alison stresses, “normally they receive support and donations of food and Christmas gifts from many local businesses”.
However, due to the “economic difficulties” created by the Covid-19 pandemic, they find themselves “without any help”.
At the time of writing, the campaign has already raised an impressive €10,450, exceeding the €10,000 target.
Donations can be made online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/Alvor-orphanage-Christmas-campaign
