The result of many months of work as well as the generosity of donors across the Algarve has meant that children’s charity ACCA, in its joint campaign with Castelo de Sonhos, has topped its previous best by providing back-to-school essentials for more than 700 needy youngsters.
Backpacks loaded with exercise books, pencils and pens, rubbers and rulers, compasses and calculators have now been distributed and will make a big difference to the lives of the recipients.
ACCA’s Gwenda Daud, who heads the annual drive, Sue Butler-Cole of Castelo de Sonhos and Su Davies of Families in Need in the Algarve, were overwhelmed by the response to their request for support. They would like to thank everyone who left items at the elected drop-off points, dropped coins in collection boxes or donated by bank transfer. Without that extra help, the campaign would not have been able to meet its ambitious target.
The biggest donor this year was Four Seasons Fairways in Quinta do Lago, donating €1,000, and items for school were also bought through a charity distribution centre. Other local companies, associations and clubs donated too, in large and small amounts.
Donations came from Arm in Arm – The Charity Van; Monte da Palhagueira Retirement Village Book Club; Carvoeiro Masons; CASA Social Club; East Algarve Walking Football; St Luke’s Church Palhagueira and Pereiras Church Almancil. Thanks go, too, to the Golf Shack and Overseas Supermercados Portugal.
“One lady donated from Canada getting her friends involved; another asked those attending her birthday party to bring donations to the back-to-school programme instead of buying her gifts; and a further donor provided Portuguese dictionaries,” said ACCA.
For further information about ACCA initiatives and how you can get involved, contact [email protected]
Photo: ACCA’s Gwenda Daud with Jorge Oliveira, General Manager of Four Seasons Fairways
