The Franciscan order has boosted Faro’s social support service in response to a huge increase in requests for help from those unable to afford to feed themselves.
The Franciscan Order of Faro has opened a new kitchen to support their existing food service for the poor at a kiosk in front of the Franciscan Church in Largo de São Francisco in Faro.
The Franciscans started the food service back in February 2010 which was built on a tradition of devotion to St. Anthony with the distribution of the ‘Bread for the Poor.’
Franciscan Paulo Ferreira presided at the blessing of the new facility last week saying that the kitchen now opened in the convent of San Francisco (attached to church) aims "to welcome and serve the needy with more dignity."
"The space we had in which to prepare meals was very limited so we created a full service kitchen to make meals that can be served at our kiosk and can then be taken home," explained Ferreira.
The priest added that in the near future, "when the weather improves, we will be able to adapt the area around the kitchen to welcome users who live on the street and who will be able to eat there.”
When the service started to feed the poor of Faro the Franciscans supported about 30 regulars but there is now demand from around 70. "Some weeks there are over 150 people who are fed," said Paulo Ferreira.
"The beneficiaries of this service are not only the homeless and drug addicts, but also families, with 90% of beneficiaries regularly looking for support," he added.
"Many families who now come are in great financial difficulty. There are numerous families who need the service because both parents are unemployed and have children in school. It is a reality that makes us think carefully about the state in which people are currently living," said Ferreira, explaining that many beneficiaries 'take away food for their entire household."
The creation of the new kitchen has been made possible from "generous donations from several people."
The Third Order of the Franciscan Family consists of Friars, trainees and a Franciscan youth section and was founded in August 1735.
