This is the time of year when we give thanks for everything we have and for the enjoyment we have shared with those close to us during the past 12 months.
Silves Rotary Club (RCS) members are reminded daily of those who have little and those whose needs include medical care and someone to share their concerns with.
Using the motto of Rotary International – Service Above Self – the club has had a most successful year in 2017.
This year we have continued our work with the End Polio Now campaign, which Rotary International has been spearheading for several years. We are particularly grateful to the Algarve Resident who continue to support us in this endeavor.
Our two major projects are both incredibly worthy associations: Castelo de Sonhos (CdS) in Silves and Casa do Povo in Messines.
Throughout the year, Rotarians have raised funds and donated items for use by the families supported by CdS – some 100+ individuals. CdS has a waiting list of people needing help.
This year RCS donated towards the purchase of a new vehicle for CdS. The vehicle is essential for many things including to ferry people to medical appointments and disburse much-needed foodstuffs to those who otherwise would go hungry. We also assisted with the provision of backpacks for children returning to school and provided shoeboxes filled with Christmas cheer for the CdS families.
Our annual concert held in November was a sellout. Again, this year we were delighted to welcome Blevins Franks International as our sponsor. The audience was treated to a delightful concert from Quarteto Concordis and over €2,000 was raised. These funds were donated to Casa do Povo for their ongoing work with those who need social care. They are currently planning the furnishing of their sensory room and continue to assist those who need help with living in the modern world.
Through our Step-Up Fund, in 2017/2018 we will be helping a young man from the Silves area to achieve his dream of attending university to study engineering. Our support is making all the difference to him and his family and we hope that he will be as successful as the young doctor who we sponsored over the past five years.
The achievements of Silves Rotary Club would have been very difficult, if not impossible, if it had not been for your support. Thank you!
To learn more about becoming a member of Silves Rotary Club, or supporting the club by being ‘a friend’, please contact us. Email: [email protected]
A warm, safe and healthy Christmas to everyone and please continue to support us in 2018.
By SHEENA RAWCLIFFE
Photo from left: David Butler-Cole, Afonso Malho (District Governor) Stewart Smith (President RCS) and Dik Bier (RCS). Dik Bier encourages visitors to his Bed and Breakfast home to donate towards cancer care in the Algarve. He brought the pink pig to the last Silves Rotary Club meeting and it contained more than €200.
