In Estoril, the solidarity campaign will help two associations this Christmas. The value of admission tickets to the three schools' Christmas parties will be donated to the "Ajuda de Berço" Association. Food, hygiene products, and clothing collected by students, on the other hand, will be given to "Turma Solidária," a social solidarity association in Alcabideche.
In Évora, "SolSal - Family Support Service" is promoting the "Hands that Multiply" food collection campaign among the educational community. In the pre-Christmas celebration, moreover, Fr. Sebastião Coelho, Director of the work, invited everyone to live the true spirit of Christmas and to convert the usual exchange of gifts into help for Christmas offerings to be delivered to more than 200 families accompanied by the "SolSal" service and the parish "Solidarity Bazaar."
A solidarity campaign has also been underway at the Salesian School in Funchal since the beginning of December to provide a little more comfort to the neediest families in and around the school. Cycle 1 students have been asked to contribute basic necessities for personal hygiene. Cycle 2 and 3 students brought food items from a list requested by the school.
Students, teachers, and staff of the Lisbon Salesians were asked to collaborate with donations for the Christmas Campaign to benefit needy families. The main needs were studied and a list was compiled and distributed to the various classes and groups; until December 16, students were able to bring hygiene products, food, and baby products.
Particular and well thought out was the campaign initiated in Manique, where the 57 classes of the Salesian institute were invited to make a Christmas basket, with non-perishable food items, based on the characteristics of each family (number of items, age, type, dietary restrictions) assigned to them. The campaign, which lasted from November 21 to December 16, has these days reached the delivery stage.
In Mirandela, the Christmas collection campaign will benefit the Children and Youth Home and the needy in the eight parishes entrusted to the Salesians. Along with this action, the Salesians in Mirandela also support students in some of the city's institutions through the distribution of clothing.
The National Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians in Mogofores is collecting food, clothing, and gifts with the help of the parish's social store and youth groups that will participate in WYD Lisbon 2023. The distribution of gifts during the Christmas celebration is a Shrine tradition. And parishioners can contribute by delivering their offerings during the Eucharists on the four Sundays of Advent or weekdays directly to the Shrine's Pastoral Office.
Finally, the Association of Parents and Guardians of Pupils of the Porto Salesians has also launched a food collection drive. The baskets will benefit needy families in the various work areas of the school, youth center, and Salesian Past Pupil Center.
