A special Thanksgiving dinner was held at Centre Algarve near Moncarapacho for the 27 volunteers currently working to make it ready for visitors next year.
The idea of the dinner came from 20-year old Andrea Faguant from Vermont in the United States, who helped at the centre for five weeks before returning for a further two.
“This is a big day for us back at home and it is nice to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving here in Portugal too,” she said.
Also attending the dinner were volunteers from the Shankhill Tennis Club in Ireland, who presented a cheque for more than €2,000 to the centre.
Volunteer Monique Jolly from the tennis club said: “This project is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when people come together with enthusiastic determination to make something happen.”
Andy Mahoney of Centre Algarve said: “The support of so many hard working volunteers means we should be able to have the facility up and running by the middle of next year.”
He added: “We are hoping to be able to accommodate a dozen autistic children at the centre next spring and they will help us to plan the petting zoo and sensory gardens here.”
For further information about the Centre Algarve project, please visit www.centrealgarve.org
