From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
On the bustling streets of Oshodi, Lagos State, a dedicated, committed group of volunteers is not only giving back to the society through distribution of meals but also fostering a sense of hope and solidarity in the lives of citizens. Once a month, through a locally driven initiative, hundreds of residents receive freshly prepared meals and a sense of connection and compassionate support, all under the shared objective of feeding the community.
Feed the Community’s team, a notable charity volunteer group, was at Oshodi Market recently to put smiles on the residents’ faces by distributing free meals and drinks to them.
The participants, made up of influencers, see this act as a way of giving back to the society, especially during these hard times where some people can barely afford one square meal daily, and also be recognized as a brand in society.
The event started with the volunteers dressed in glamorous costumes to interact with market women and commuters in the market to announce what they were doing and why they were there.
O’Care, the founder, utilized superhero costumes as a symbolic gesture to demonstrate their dedication to residents’ care and their commitment to serving others while Claire AI, who is also one of the volunteers, embodied the role of an artificial intelligence robot to put smiles on the residents’ faces. The remaining team members (Lady Veee, Legend and Dorathy) were dressed in elegant attires to collectively convey a sense of unity and purpose.
In an interview, the team emphasised the importance of sharing and providing meals to those in need. The charity aims to combat hunger by providing meals to hundreds of people in market areas, with some relying on it as their only dally meal.
Blessing Oke, known as O’care (the everyday hero), believes that this kind gesture is a way of interacting with people in the community, providing assistance as well as brand recognition for the foundation.
She said: “The purpose of the event is to interact with the community members, just like the theme. This is the little way we can give to the community and for us to be recognised as a brand to be reckoned with.”
She further stated that the foundation does not only participate in “feeding the community but also does other charitable activities, like empowering people financially, among others.
“Feeding the Community is just an aspect of O’care’s gestures to the community. There are other programmes like visiting playgrounds to give out gifts to children, supporting businesses and so on.”
Although, this is not the first time they are embarking on such a charitable act, even if it is self-funded, but they are seeking collaborations, partnerships, funding as well as sponsorship for future editions.
Marie Claire Agbor, also known as Claire AI, acknowledges the challenges, such as crowd control and misunderstandings the people have of the initiative but also added that the team was well-trained to handle it and “we are ready for the job”.
“Sometimes to control the crowd can be a bit stressful or the people being fed may not understand the purpose. There is a lot of pressure but we are trained to handle it.”
In addition, she stated that the event occurs monthly, with the intention of increasing to weekly or even daily, if sufficient sponsors are secured.
Alloysius Etim, known as Legend, noted that the charity’s tangible result is feeding people in a time of hunger, which is a form of community service: “People are happy, fed and praying for us.”
A key impact is the positive feedback from the people who have benefited.
Patience Edobor, known as Lady Veee, one of the volunteers, also mentioned that the event aims to “put smiles on people’s faces due to the current economic hardships. We have been doing charity work for a long time but only recently started publicizing it, to encourage others.” Despite personal setbacks like job loss, Lady Veee remains committed to helping others, inspired by the help she received in the past.
“This initiative extends beyond the provision of food; it is fundamentally about upholding human dignity and demonstrating genuine care. Every individual deserves to be recognized and supported.”
At a time when hope is rare, one bold woman in red and black is bringing it back — one smile, one act of kindness, one skit at a time. O’Care, a rising content creator and superhero figure, is turning ordinary moments into powerful changes. Dressed in her iconic red and black costume, O’Care has captured the hearts of Nigerians with her unique blend of humour, community outreach, and Afro-centric storytelling.
According to her, her mission is to prove that you don’t need superpowers to be a hero — just a good heart. She is building a digital movement of real-life heroes.
“I created O’Care to show that heroism lives in everyday people. With faith, kindness and boldness, we can change our world,” said the creator behind the mask. With a growing presence across various platforms, she’s a force of kindness.