Dear friend and supporter,
We are in lock-down mode since Sunday the 22 March in Portugal, similar to what is taking places in many countries around the world.
I know many of you are right now are feeling scared, anxious or lonely.
The one thing we at ASMAA appeal to you is not to allow fear or panic to rule your life at present. Stay calm and use this time to rest, to do the things you normally may not have time to do. But above all, I want you to know that everyone at ASMAA is with you each and everyday for as long as this situation last.
You are not alone.
As we have done in the past, ASMAA is stepping up to assist once again these that may find themselves in need across the Algarve in the upcoming weeks and months.
We will at the same time not neglect the various campaigns that we are involved with right now.
We invite you to join us on Facebook and to engage via email.
ASMAA is without a doubt one of the organizations that people can reach out to in Portugal. We will all get through this if we all stand together.
We’ll continue to work hard on the anti-5G campaign. In addition we will be in the frontline assisting as many people as possible in the Algarve that may find themselves in dire situations, as we have done so often in the past.
Due to the lockdown we will not be able to be and go everywhere.
As a result we are teaming up with others across the Algarve, to assist as many as we can, as we expect the need to escalate over the next couple of weeks and even months. I’m sorry to say, that we do not expect this situation to lift before June this year.
As many of you know, the Algarve depends on tourism to survive. This means that as the situation escalates, demands for assistance from many quarters will soon reach us on a daily basis.
We will be using everything in our power to assist as far as possible, including sharing our funds and resources with other organisations and community groups scattered across the Algarve. If you are already involved in a community support group in any area across the Algarve, and we haven't been in touch yet, please get is touch with us so that we can link-up with you. We are ALL in this together.
Now, I’m going to ask you for a donation so that ASMAA can once again rise to the challenge we all face. I know that not all of us can afford to give away money right now. If you can’t, that’s ok – we truly understand. If you are one of these that find yourself in need of assistance and are currently in the Algarve, just remember that we are here for you as well.
But for those of us who can afford to chip in any funds, it’s even more important that we do that right now. So my dear friend and dear supporter, will you chip in with 10, 20€ or 50€ to help us build a fund that will support our work over the next couple of weeks and upcoming months?
You can sponsor ASMAA directly via PayPal (including credit card payments) using email info@asmaa-algarve.org or directly to Paypal via our website: http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/donate
Or via Bank Transfer (EFT)
BANK: SANTANDER TOTTA
ASMAA Algarve Surf and Marine Activities Association
IBAN: PT50 0018 0008 02686698020 51
REF: SE (if its to help us to provide support during the state of emergency in the Algarve)
ASMAA has proven over and over that we always deliver on what we say. This time it will not be different, but we do need the support of everyone.
If you are in the Algarve and can volunteer, please let us know. We will need many hands on board. Please do get in touch via Facebook or via email.
We have a choice: do we step back and wait for this to blow over? Or do we roll up our sleeves and get stuck in? It’s going to be up to all of us to define how our country responds to this.
The team at ASMAA has been working hard (from their houses and apartments!). Some of us are setting up support centers in various areas.
We at ASMAA have made our own facilities available for as long as needed, including the use of our charity shop in Lagos that is now closed to the public.
This is a time for generosity of spirit and community, not turning inwards.
And for all of this to work we need money to make it happen. So if you can donate, please chip in now. If your donation is to assist during the lock down, your donation will assist us in purchasing items of first necessity (food, toiletries, etc), providing funds to others that are area bound to buy needed items in their area, etc.).
You can sponsor ASMAA directly via PayPal (including credit card payments) using email info@asmaa-algarve.org or directly to Paypal via our website: http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/donate
Or via Bank Transfer (EFT)
BANK: SANTANDER TOTTA
ASMAA Algarve Surf and Marine Activities Association
IBAN: PT50 0018 0008 02686698020 51
REF: SE (if its to help us to provide support during the state of emergency in the Algarve)
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. We’ll get through this together.
Laurinda Seabra and the rest of the ASMAA team
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Facebook Lagos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245267679843950/
Facebook main group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/asmaaalgarve/
Tel: 00351 969 320 231 | 00351 282 182 103
Email: info @ asmaa-algarve.org
PORTUGAL STATE OF EMERGENCY INFO IN PT & EN: http://www.asmaa-algarve.org/en/state-of-emergency (we are now uploading daily info - including practical tips that you can apply wherever you are)
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Don't forget to donate and sponsor ASMAA, as we would NOT exist without people like you. Keep in mind that ASMAA has no big donors or corporate sponsors. Everything we achieve together is only possible because of the small donations that we receive from ordinary people just like you. Please will you consider chipping in ten, or twenty Euros or whatever you can spare now?