By Christy Anyanwu
Hands Up for Nigeria, an NGO under the umbrella of Grace Foundation, a non-profit welfare vehicle of the House of Grace, has again put smiles on the faces of the underprivileged with items like foodstuff, books, clothes, shoes, reading glasses and medical treatment on October 1, 2024.
As early as 6:30am the crowd had converged on Navy Town Sports Complex, Alakija, Lagos, awaiting accreditation to enable them access to the facilities and gifts.
After exhortation in the word of God and health talk, the task of the day began with the sharing of items and medical examination.
One of the beneficiaries, Lauretta Etuk, an unemployed graduate, was full of thanks and praise to the organizers. “This is beyond my expectations. I got a brand new pressing table, two tubers of yam, rice, beans and garri,” she enthused.
Iyabo Lawani, a petty trader, said she looks forward to the event every October 1 and this is her eighth year of attendance. “I’m happy. I got clothes, shoes, books for my children, tubers of yam, rice, beans, garri, and I’m on the queue for medical treatment, especially my eyes. I need glasses,” she said.
Deacon Phillip Okuabor, the coordinator of the event, said the team decided to change the venue to a more secured place. “Crowds were largely regimented because of this environment. It’s a more challenging year. All the preparation was almost done at the last minute because of funds. Food items were a major issue and we tried our best, as we could to get companies to help us with food”.
He, however, appealled to corporate organizations, government and well -meaning Nigerians to assist the NGO.
“This week, an individual gave us 40 cartons of indomie, eight cartons of Power Oil and 12 cartons of Semolina. He even came to the church and left some provisions. Those are the kind of people that make things possible. It was pretty challenging raising money for this.This year is more challenging,” he said.
Okuabor, who gave praises to God for the success of the outreach, also gave kudos to the medical team from LUTH and LASUTH, and loads of volunteers who assisted in the medicals.