The charity consists of: Algarve Emporium Charity, Support for Families, Tavira 2nd Chance.


Alarve Emporium Charity

Algarve Emporium has a team of 12 people.

Our primary role is distributing food to people in need in Tunes but we also collect and sort donations, sell to raise funds and distribute clothes and household goods to families.

This has been our mission now for over 1 year and our team quadrupled because of the increased demand. Currently we feed 35 families and the number is still growing. I foresee this Covid crisis continuing for at least another year because the 2021 summer season is by no means guaranteed and the families here rely on seasonal work. We expect to continue helping many of the families until spring 2022.

Our work is only possible by the very generous donations from so many people.

In addition to the food donations that we receive, we also spend a further €360 every week buying fresh meat, vegetables, fruit and topping up the staples to ensure everyone gets a bag full of food to last them.

Sadly fund raising events at the present time are very restricted so we rely on cash donations and online sales - mostly on Facebook. We have a Facebook group called Algarve Emporium Charity that will keep you updated on our news.
We are asking people to drop off food donations to the following places at any time:

  • ALGOZ, box in Candeias Supermecardo
  • GUIA, trolley in Overseas Supermarket
  • GALÉ, trolley in Overseas Supermarket

Or meet some of the team to donate at:-
Monday, by Burger Ranch in SILVES, 11.30 - 12.30
Tuesday, O Feedback Bar ALCANTARILHA GARE, Charity Quiz Night arrive 7.30pm
Friday, Between the lines in TUNES, 11.30 - 12.30
Friday, Intermarche car park in MESSINES, alternate Fridays 2nd July onwards 12.30 - 1.30

If you would like to make a cash donation, or you would like more information on anything else, contact algarveemporium@gmail.com

Support for Families

Support for Families was created in 2017 to help vulnerable individuals and families, by providing material needs and practical help and we became part of Associação Guarda-Chuva at its inception. We receive and distribute baby equipment e.g. cots and prams and children’s clothes, along with unwanted furniture and white goods, such as microwaves and fridges, for families who often have few possessions, lack basic items and consequently struggle with daily living . We have also given several re-conditioned bicycles to workers with no transport.

We would encourage anyone who has some spare time to volunteer, sourcing and/or delivering articles to families and of course financial help too is very welcome, as it enables us to supply children with spectacles and emergency dental work. Every summer we have been able to contribute to the “Back to School” Campaign and last year provided over 50 children with the materials they needed to return to school, including a number of re-conditioned laptops. (Laptops, in any conditions are very welcome.) We also gave Christmas presents to over 60 children. Financial support at the moment is going towards food bills for those families affected financially by the Covid-19 crisis

Please contact us if you feel you would like to contribute too or if you would like further information about this Charity.


Tavira 2nd Chance

Tavira 2nd Chance is the newest member of Associação Guarda Chuva having joined in 2020, our main aim to help disadvantaged families and organisations in and around Tavira.

We have a shop in Rua Dr Parreira, Tavira open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am - 1pm. We can also be found at the Flea Market next to the Municipal Market in Tavira when it resumes, Covid allowing. We have also held, at the Black Anchor, Tavira, fund raising events including a Table Quiz and Summer and Christmas Fairs, the latter being in conjunction with East Algarve Families In Need who were providing food for families financially affected by Covid.

The donations we made vary greatly from Christmas presents for the children at Uma Porta Amigas School, Christmas food hampers for the needy to a monetary donation to the Day Centre for the Elderly at Santo Estêvão in a joint initiative with the East Algarve Walking Footballers who supplied food to them. They also supply food to families. We hope to partner them in other initiatives in the future.

We have bought wool for the Rotary Estói Palace International who are knitting teddy bears to be sponsored, the proceeds going to a Children’s Orphanage in Faro.

We recently made a further donation to the Day Centre for the Elderly and received the following letter of appreciation from the President of the Board.

Good Morning
Your gesture in support of the Santo Estêvão Social Centre has great significance for us. The time we spend, with additional expenses, requires extra care to treat our elderly well.
Your help deserves our respect and strong thanks.
Well there!!
Sincerely
Jose Macario Correia.
President of the Board
(Translated)

We like to show support for other local organisations with similar aims to our own, such as the Charity Warehouse near Santa Luzia who give donated items free of charge to people who need them. We also donate to a very worthy cause, ONG Amor ao Proximo, who take essential items including clothes, bedding, food etc to a very poor area of the Azores.

We would like to thank each and every one of the people who support us in making all of this possible.

We can be contacted on our Facebook page Tavira 2nd Chance
by email to kathnjack@hotmail.co.uk or by phone to Kath 964879951 or Jane 920093293.