Dear friend of the Algarve

Since 2017 we have been providing support to individuals and families during major fires across Portugal. We have now launched the second phase of our support campaign for the latest fire tragedy to hit our shores. Wild fires have devastated on 19 and 20 June nearly 50 homes in the Western Algarve areas of Aljezur, Lagos and Vila do Bispo, burned over 2000 ha of forest, forced hundreds to evacuate their homes, and saw at least 48 habitations totally destroyed.

We have been providing food, and other items of first necessity since then to many of these affected, but for individuals and families to start healing by taking care of their devastated lands we are requesting your assistance in the form of a donation of new or second hand tools that you may have laying around your home and no longer have a use for it.

Items can be delivered to us in Lagos, or if you are in the Algarve we can see if we can collect from you. Alternatively if you are too far from us, could you assist with a money donation so that we can purchase items that will be needed?

We have people in the affected areas liaising directly with these affected by the fires and with us, who will ensure a fair distribution of all donated goods. The members of the community are helping each other and sharing the donated resources with these without it.

In addition to tools and equipment, irrigation pipes, borehole pumps, caravans, tents, yurts, wood, steel and many other items are needed to. So far we have managed to source a caravan, but many more alternative accommodation is still needed, as they all want to get back to their lands as soon as possible. Currently their friends in the local communities have provided temporary accommodation, but it would be irresponsible to expect it to be long-term. So if you can help, they will be grateful for your support.

Many of the families affected are small subsistence farmers, artisans and artists.

If you can’t assist us with tools, then a financial contribution can help us assist these in need of our support.

With your financial help, we can continue to provide direct services to feed many of the families, who have lost everything, to support seniors and our other vulnerable community members, and to organize donation for furniture, clothes, and other necessities as the need arises.  We will also support rebuilding efforts of key community structures that were lost in the fire, to get these communities up and running as quickly as possible.

A little bit can go a very long way to help the affected communities. For examples, your tax-deductible gift of:

• €50 will buy a drilling machine or other similar electrical tools.
  €100 will buy 99m of agricultural irrigation tubes.
  €250 will buy a suitable water tank for potable water that was destroyed in the blaze.

What is more, if we receive your financial gift by the end of the week, you will get a 10% clothing voucher that you can redeem in the Treasure Chest Vintage Clothing Boutique in Lagos, or in their Fiction Book Section. You can redeem your voucher in person at the shop, or the item selected by you can be posted to you. Just email us proof of your donation and we will organize the rest.

The simplest form to make your financial donation online is via your Paypal account, or your credit or debit card. Our Paypal email to donate is info@asmaa-algarve.org or click on the Paypal link on our website: https://www.asmaa-algarve.org/en/donate
REFERENCE: Fires

Donating by direct bank transfer
ASMAA Algarve Surf and Marine Activities Association
IBAN: PT50 0018 0008 02686698020 51
BIC/SWIFT: TOTAPTPL

We urge you to give as generously as you can, to help us restore our communities in the Western Algarve as quickly as possible.

Thank you

Very Best,

Laurinda Seabra

ASMAA Director

(00351) 969 320 231 / 282 182 103