On 21 October, ADRA's Póvoa de Santa Iria branch held a solidarity concert in the hall of the Forte da Casa Parish Church. The concert was put on to raise food and monetary funds to support vulnerable individuals and families in the parishes of Póvoa de Santa Iria and Forte da Casa. The event, which brought together 138 people, raised around 110kg of food and 860 euros.
The concert featured the special participation of "Ministério Mais Perto", a Christian-inspired music group made up of 20 members. Through their songs, the group seeks to convey messages of hope to a world increasingly plagued by conflicts and catastrophes. The group presented seven songs from their repertoire to the audience.
The event was attended by the vice-president and executive director of ADRA Portugal, Dr. João Faustino and Dr. Cármen Maciel; the president of the Póvoa de Santa Iria and Forte da Casa Parish Council, Dr. Ana Cristina Pereira; the Secretary of the Board and a member of ARIPSI (Association of Retired and Elderly People of Póvoa De Santa Iria), Paula Custódio and Joaquim Baltazar.
According to Lisley Filipe, head of the local delegation, the event exceeded the ADRA team’s expectations: "The room was packed with partners and people from the community. From the feedback I've had, the public really enjoyed the whole event, from the music, which was very good, to the speeches by the presenters and interviewees as well as the cocktail that was served, and the opportunity to contribute by buying ADRA merchandising and items that our volunteers had prepared to give 100 per cent of the profits from sales to our delegation. Everyone was very happy to have been part of this moment and to have achieved very good results in terms of donations. We also had a visit from the president of the Parish Council, Dr. Ana Cristina Pereira, who gave us words of encouragement." Lisley Filipe also revealed her intention to organise a charity concert again in 2024.
Cármen Maciel, ADRA's executive director in Portugal, commented that "initiatives like this demonstrate the vitality of the volunteers and the fun they have in contributing to the growth of the organisation. Their involvement is extraordinary and demonstrates the real value of selfless service. The Póvoa de Santa Iria Delegation is to be congratulated for organising this beautiful solidarity concert".
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