Realising the sofabed would be more useful to someone else, he turned to fellow EAWF club members for advice as to how to proceed.

Steve was informed about a local charity called NACS (Nova Alianca Centro Social) in Olhão that would be happy to receive his unwanted item. Realising a van would be needed to transport his sofabed, Steve saw this could provide an opportunity to encourage other fellow EAWF members to donate things they no longer needed.

With a small amount of EAWF funding, a van was hired and items including wardrobes, beds and mattresses were soon delivered by Steve to NACS. Fortunately, this is the beginning rather than the end of this particular story. Over the past year, Steve together with willing friends at the EAWF now offers regular pick-ups of unwanted items from other members of the football club. These items are either sold at the NACS shop in Olhão to raise funds for local people or families or given directly to local community recipients who NACS know are genuinely in need.


Charity liaison Maria Jose Sequeira (aka Zeza) is Steve’s contact at NACS. She said, “We are a small charity supporting some of the most vulnerable people in the local community. We are extremely grateful for all regular donations given by Steve and other members of the club”.

EAWF continues to pay for the hire of the van as part of its wide portfolio of charity work. Andy Smith heads up the EAWF charity committee. He said, “Each week our members enjoy a fun, healthy and competitive sporting environment. At the same time through part of their weekly playing fees they are also supporting a range of local charitable causes which is such a great thing”.

In the past few years EAWF funding has provided for donations of cash, clothing and toys to the A Gaviota children's home in Tavira, sleeping bags for the homeless, food and medical supplies to the Bombeiros, and food vouchers for local families. Charitable funds are also raised through local companies who provide sponsorship for club kit.

More info on EAWF charitable work can be found on the charity news page at eastalgarvewf.com/news or contact Andy Smith for sponsorship information at info@eastalgarvewf.com. For more details on NACS visit their website at www.nacs.pt.