Residents of the west coast community of Vale da Telha raised their glasses and collected €700 to put a smile on the faces of deprived families and children at Christmas.
Community association Amovate (the Association of Residents and Friends of Vale da Telha) teamed up with local bar Hugo’s with the aim of providing presents for children who otherwise might not be getting a visit from Santa Claus this year.
Amovate President John Bergstrom-Potter said: “It’s a win-win situation; you have your bevvy and the charity gets some money to put a smile on the faces of children in danger of missing out at a time for giving and wellbeing.”
Each year the BPI Bank’s branch in Aljezur is supplied with a list of children in deprived circumstances who will not be receiving any Christmas presents, and the branch arranges to collect donations to help out.
Amovate and Hugo Nanitas from the bar offered to arrange gifts from the cash raised at the charity event for 10 of these children, including a personalised Christmas card with each gift-wrapped present.
Hugo’s pledge to donate a portion of the price of every drink sold in a four-hour period – €1 for every “caneca” (pint) priced at €2.50, for example, raised €285.50 which Amovate then doubled to produce a final total of €571.
Amovate then decided to round the cash up to €700 – €200 for the children’s presents and €500 to the St Vincent de Paul society for distribution amongst the area’s poorer families.
Amovate committee member Steve Baker also set up several games of skill during the event – which was attended by Aljezur Câmara President José Amarelinho and parish priest Padre Nuno – for which people paid €1 and attempted to win five bottles of beer in an ice bucket.
By Matt D’Arcy
Drink for charity
