A Christmas Carol? A Christmas in Lapa instead.

2020, what a year it has been. Finally, we are coming towards the end, to our relief, and the hope that with a new year come better times too. This year, at Books, we went from our idea of heaven, another sensational carnival, to literally our idea of hell, having to close the magical doors for 6 months. However, we can also say that we were the grateful recipients of an outpouring of support and positivity. Thank you to you and your beautiful souls!

And here we go again, to ask for your help once more.

Now, and maybe more importantly so than ever before, it is good to do good for others. That is the lesson. For 6 months, of which we were mostly inside our homes and ourselves, we had enough time to reflect. We realized how fast we can lose things that we’d never imagine we could lose, and we saw various examples of people, who despite the erratic and uncertain times that we are living, stood up to be counted, and helped others. From Lisa, Ed’s aunt who cooked for the vulnerable, to Edumais who as crazy as it sounds distributed 611 food baskets through from April to December to people in the communities of Cantagalo and Pavão Pavãozinho, to Rashford, who I must say, positively surprised me and showed some compassion and humbleness that I wouldn’t expect, to the very same Ed, who helped me 3 times a week, for maybe 7 weeks to give food around Lapa, and, of course, to everyone involved in Bucks for Books.

Christmas is arriving, and we intend to carry on organizing Christmas in Lapa. This year, more than never, it is important to do so. To show that despite all the stress we had, locked inside, we still have a strong will to offer our hand and help to people, who, different from us, do not have a home to be locked inside.

As usual we will cook food on the 20th of December (200 packed meals) and also offer 100 kits with flip flops, hygiene products and some other essentials.

The ammout of money that is left will be again donated to Edumais.

We count on you and your help and generosity. Thank you!