Is it possible that we throw away 1/3 of all the food we produce? When a ReFood Volunteer came to Rotary Club Estoi Palace International and explained that it is possible, everyone there was very surprised.

What is Refood? In 2010 an American ex pat living in Lisbon, Hunter Halder, realised that he could help to stop these shocking amounts of food being thrown away and reutilise them.

On Wednesday 9th March 2011 Refood went into action with one volunteer on a bicycle visiting 30 restaurants, and collecting enough food to feed 50 people in need for 5 days a week. Today there are 31 ReFood centres operating throughout the country where more than 4,500 volunteers are currently rescuing 46,000 meals a month from more than 900 food source partners, and serving 2,500 people 5 to 6 days a week. 

The Social and Community Centre of Vale Silves, Boliqueime, provides support to the local community in various ways. Its principal objective is to help and support unemployed families but its scope is wide and far reaching. The team there provide information, occupational workshops, social and cultural events, transport, youth clubs, activities for the elderly, and much more. It relies heavily on donations to keep going. 

The Centre desperately needed a new van to continue transport of the elderly and infirm, plus daily food deliveries to families within the Loule area. The Council committed to funding 50% but needed help with the remaining 50%. The Wolf Valley Charity stepped in with an offer of assistance, and they asked Rotary Club Estoi Palace International if it would also like to contribute.

2015 proved to be a successful fund raising year for Derek Sells and the members of Boavista Golf and Spa Resort. The Captain’s Charity Day, held on 13th June, attracted 58 players and together with various events staged throughout the year, the sum of €11322.40€ was raised – an impressive achievement.

During the course of the year, the club also raised additional funds through organising events such as quiz nights, race nights and bingo evenings.

The Jogos de Quelfes, under Dr. Gustavo Marcos, has organised for the last 7 years various sporting events in the Algarve, together with support from the councils, destined for children. However, on 22nd April the first equestrian event was held at Pinetrees Almancil and enjoyed by 25 children and young adults, all with learning disabilities and also some with physical impairment. 

The event was supported by valued members of the community – Sponsors Mapro Real Estate, Rood Construction, Algarve Fine Food and children´s charity ACCA, together with a large host of volunteers and associations who made the day possible to be enjoyed by the riders and their families.

The São Louenço Choir was formed in January 2013. Numbers vary, but currently the choir has around 40 members from different nationalities with a mix of sopranos, altos and baritones under the musical direction of Joyce Whitelaw. Their diverse repertoire ranges from jazz/swing through to classical.
The choir is based in the São Lourenço Cultural Centre.

Week of 11th April 2016.
Dogs in residence: 120 ?
Dogs adopted this year: 35
Dogs to be adopted this month: 2 to date.

Silves Rotary Club celebrated its 23rd anniversary recently with a dinner and presentation at The Garden Deck, Oceanico’s Amendoeira Golf Clubhouse. Guests included Incoming District Governor (IDG) Abílio Lopes, British Vice Consul Clive Jewell along with Rotarians and friends.

Bart van Linden, President of Silves Rotary, presented a check for over 2000€ to Margarida Trindade from UNIR – an association that takes care of those who are mentally disadvantaged.

The Atlantic Piano Bar in Vilamoura and Vila Sol Golf course were the venues for a grand fund-raising event on Sunday 20 March.
A total of 1,250 Euros was raised for charities supported by Almancil International Rotary Club (AIRC). The day began with sixteen golfers playing in glorious sunshine, followed by an evening of quizzing at the Atlantic Bar.