THE GREAT FOOD COLLECTION IS UNDERWAY IN CASARES

The Great Food Collection is taking place today in Casares. The collection, which is part of the countrywide collection held very year, is to help needy families. It started yesterday and there are severl collection points in Cases, Secadero and Casares Costa. There are over 100 families in the social integration program in the Casares municipality.The collection is being held under the slogan “Hunger cannot be seen” and according to the head of Food Bank, Paola Lopez, all donations will be put to good use to help those in need. In Casares families need canned goods, oil, flour, sugar and toiletries. Donations can be left at Casares Costa, at Los Alemndros school in Secadero and at the Department of Social Welfare and the Blas Infante school in Casares as well as several local shops.

ALL SAINTS DAY DREW BIG CROWDS FOR CELEBRATIONS IN CASARES

This year’s All Saints celebration drew big crowds to various events in Casares. Hundreds of people gathered at the cemetery for the annual chestnut festival. And at the Casares, Secadero and Casares Costa there was a big turn out for the Halloween parties. May outside visitors came to Casares for the All Saints festival and roasted chestnuts, chocolates and sweets were handed out by students from as part of their fund raising activities. The Blas Infante Cultural Centre had 109 visitors, of which eight per cent were foreign tourists. At Casares Costa a hundred children took part in the Halloween party at the Deputy Mayor’s office where they enjoyed the entertainment.

CASARES RENEWS ITS AGREEMEENT TO SUPPORT THE MUNICIPAL FOOD BANK

The Ayuntamiento in Casares has renewed its agreement with Desvan Solidario to keep the municipal food bank open. Desvan Solidario was the brainchild of a young Casarena Paula Lopez who set it up in June 2013. The food bank manages resources collected and donated by charitable activities to provide relief for disadvantaged families. It works closely with the local authority to manage resources allocated by the Red Cross and charitable donations from supermarkets and individuals. The food bank is open during office hours on Tuesdays and Fridays at Casares, on Thursdays at Casares Costa and at Secadero on Wednesdays. The programme currently looks after more than 107 families. 76 volunteers help the food bank to carry out its activties during the year.

THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS IN CASARES WITH A SPECIAL DAY TO WELCOME NEW STUDENTS

It was back to school this week for children in Casares and Secadero. A special day was held on Wednesday to welcome the 800 students who will be attending the Blas Infante and Los Almendros schools. There are 350 pupils enrolled at Blas Infante and 162 at Los Almendros in Secadero. Teaching staff were making the final preparations this week for the return to school and all services, including dining and school transport, are ready. Yesterday the normal school schedule resumed from 9 to 2 in Casares and Secadero. A full programme of extracurricular activities will commence in October.

SUMMER SCHOOL

Over 200 children are attending this year’s summer schools in Casares and Secadero. The kids will have a wide range of activities, including sports, culture and recreation. The school runs for four weeks in Casares and for July and August in Secadero.

VOTERS HAVE CHOSEN PROJECTS FOR THE PARTICIPATION PLAN

Over 600 residents of Casares, Casares Costa and Secadero took part in last week’s voting on projects for this year’s Citizen Participation Plan. 14 per cent of those eligible went to the polls. In Casares there was a 62 per cent turn out, in Secadero 27 per cent and 11 per cent of voters in Casares Costa took part. Projects which got the go ahead include improving the Espileta which has a budget of 65,000 Euro. Secadero residents chose to improve the pedestrian walkway El Papudo which has a budget of 45,000 Euro. The projects chosen for Casares Costa are spread between Marina de Casares and Bahia de Casares and have a total budget of 90,000 Euro.