Stöd Mãos de Ajuda!

Jag hade nöjet att tala med ordföranden för föreningen Mãos de Ajuda, Betty Dowell, som har bott i Tavira-området i 11 år, och den mångåriga medlemmen Niel Ussher som gick med i den Tavira-baserade välgörenhetsorganisationen 2017.

Av Cristina da Costa Brookes, in Community · 26 cuo 2022, 10:56 · 0 Kommentarer

Mãos de Ajuda has been dedicated to helping as many people as possible since opening its doors in 2016. The charity shop is located 13A Avenida Dr. Eduardo de Mansinho, Tavira and is open Wednesday and Saturday from 10am until 1pm.

Betty Dowell told me that they opened the shop because “At the time you weren’t able to get anything of this quality for affordable prices and we wanted to benefit low-income families.” Niel Ussher added that “an awful lot of the public services are underfunded and they do need the help, Mãos de Ajuda punches above its weight and does a lot of really good work.”

Unique shop

The unique charity shop offers good quality clothing and shoes for men, women and children for sale at affordable prices whereby all the shops proceeds go to helping those in need. Additionally, you will find a wide variety of English fiction and nonfiction books as well as in various languages. They also have a great selection of CDS, DVDS and Vinyl’s as well as Children’s games and toys. Currently Mãos de Ajuda are welcoming donations of Spring and Summer clothing as well as the above items that are in good condition.

Mãos de Ajuda have a list of incredible achievements including “distributing over €100,000 in help to various organisations and individuals in the Tavira and surrounding area including defibrillators, wheelchairs, physiotherapy treatment and various medical items as well as monthly help to the food banks in Tavira.”

Some of their more recent initiatives include “donating a freezer and groceries to Fundação Irene Rolo for families in need, a sofa, television and school supplies to A Gaivota Children’s Home in Tavira, a television to the elderly day care centre in Santa Casa de Misericordia in Vila Real de Santo António, as well as a hand-washing unit for the nurse’s treatment room.”

Volunteers

Mãos de Ajuda are also in need of volunteers, “we are looking for enthusiastic and hardworking volunteers who are willing to make an ongoing commitment with volunteers coming at a set time each week and making this an ongoing part of their life.”

Support Mãos de Ajuda today by visiting their shop where your money is making a positive impact on the community.

For more information, please see their Facebook page @maosdeajuda and if you would like to volunteer or contact them, please email maosdeajuda@gmail.com.

Following undertaking her university degree in English with American Literature in the UK, Cristina da Costa Brookes moved back to Portugal to pursue a career in Journalism, where she has worked at The Portugal News for 3 years. Cristina’s passion lies with Arts & Culture as well as sharing all important community-related news.