Date: 2020-05-07

A foundation with focus on care for vulnerable persons, Sheri Care Foundation (SCARF), has donated food packs to more than 7,000 vulnerable households in Nigeria.

President of SCARF, Alhaja Sherifah Aregbesola, said the non-governmental organisation was out to ease the burden of vulnerable households already distressed by the five weeks lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

The food items distributed per household include: 1kg of semolina, 1kg of wheat, three packs of macaroni, two packs of spaghetti and seven packs of noodles.

Alhaja Aregbesola said the first round of distribution for 3,000 beneficiaries was sponsored exclusively by her family members. "It was during the first round of distribution that we realised the need to increase the scope of our intervention, hence, the extension of appeal to our friends and family. Alhamdulillah, they responded well. We set out a target of N25 million and over 80 per cent of our target was realised in less than two weeks.

"So far, we have done 7,000 households for the people in Alimosho, Lagos State; Ilesa in Osun State; and Ijagbo in Kwara State. Our target is 10,000 households," she said.

The SCARF president expressed concern that vulnerable households across the country were the worst hit by the lockdown. Their breadwinners being wage earners lacked any support during the period and it is very harrowing for them.

"They were not prepared for the impact of this pandemic; we saw it as an opportunity for the privileged to support the needy. They deserve our support to weather these very hard times. SCARF will look forward to supporting more communities and households across the country, riding on donations from privileged and compassionate Nigerians," she said.