Again, KSM gives out food items to indigent Persons in Ejigbo

To some of the beneficiaries that spoke to Nation Update, said on hearing of the programme the previous night, hope was elicited in them even as they had gone to bed on empty stomach which accounted to why they were there as early as 6:00am that Saturday morning.

To Molawe Elizabeth, mother of four and a Togolese, it’s God in His mercy that she was called by Saint Vincent Dee Paul, a society in the Church that coordinated the programme to come around for the support  initiated by the Knights of Saint Mulumba.

“You may not know how relieved I am this morning, because I can confidently go home now prepare food for my children. God bless the persons behind this gesture even as I don’t know them.

“I don’t even worship in this place. Somebody told me about saint Vincent Dee Paul, I registered with them, I was called for this particular support programme. Am so excited. I give God glory.

To some other beneficiaries also, this gesture was like shower of blessing not droplets just as it has continued to come their ways from the Catholic Church.

Deaconess Nkechi Egwuonwu, said the Church has been her source of hope even when she is not a member of the Catholic Church though she attends Adoration programmes of the church. Through the church, she has roof over her head, her business revived and now food provision.

“When wind took away the roof to my house, they repaired it for me, repaired my two freezers and gave me money to start up a business. Even the church my husband served for 20 years could not come to my aid.

“As the knights have wiped away my tears and that of my family; have provided food for us just as we are coming out  from what seems like state of hopelessness and helplessness last knight, God in heaven will not disappoint them. He will answer them when they call Him. I pray God will give them the grace to make heaven.

“As for the Saint Vincent Dee Paul that took the stress of scrutinizing the persons called up, God will never abandone them in their times of need.

Dorcas Balogun, who was formally residing in Bucknor area, said it was while living in the area that she registered with the Saint Vincent Dee Paul. They called her on phone that is why she has come for this charity programme of KSM.

“May God continue to bless them.

However, I wish they could help us start small-scale business. Above all, am happy that I can go home and put food on the table for my family,” Dorcas said.

Speaking earlier the Reverend father in-charge of the Parish, Fr. Joseph Ozor said from all that has been displayed to be given and the people sited to benefit, the message of “Feed the Hungry” an initiative of Knights of St. Mulumba has been made clear. He prayed that God enrich and sustain them to do more especially now hunger and starvation have pervaded the land.

He prayed for God’s Sustenance upon them.

In his message the Worthy brother Ekele Cyril, who is the Grand Knight of St Mulumba(KSM), Ejiigbo Sub Council said the “Feed the Hungry Charity Apostolate” is a window created by the “Order” to go down to parishes within their catchment areas and extend support to the needy by giving them food items, relying on the support of the Society of Saint Vincent Dee Paul in various parishes to identify genuine Persons.

He said, “This is a quarterly programme. We had the maiden edition at the Catholic Church of Annunciation Ori-oke, in the month of March and we are here this time. We will go to another church by September.

“We thank God for this edition. It was very seamless compared to the first edition. All involved have perfected from the experience of the last outing. This was smooth, hitch-free and quite timely.

“We are happy that we are putting smiles on the faces of people as little as it may be, for us, this is the hallmark of Knighthood which is charity, hospitality and generosity to the less-privileged that’s why for you to be a knight, you must be ready to sacrifice your time and treasure.”

While addressing the beneficiaries, Worthy brother Odinaka Iwu who is the Chairman of Feed the Hungry Apostolate, Ejigbo Sub Council charged them not to despair but put thier trust in God who will change their temporary set back to greater fortune.

He charged then on the need to work and aspire to make heaven.

Iwu assured that as the project gains attention in the heart of his brother Knights, more funds will be raised to give more Support as the target for the next edition is not less than 250 beneficiaries.

“We are satisfied by the selection as you can see the beneficiaries are truly in need even though most of them are not Catholics, we do it across board.We are grateful to God who has given us the vision to do this.

“We may consider other areas of need in the future, but for now our focus is on placing food on the table of families no matter how little.

“The food items we have given out are in the neighborhood of N7000 per pack.

“We sought the help of our brethren of Saint Vincent Dee Paul to select 100 Persons, but we brought 120 packs to enable us accommodate needy persons not captured in the list, we are very grateful for the wonderful job they did.”

Speaking on the mode of selecting of beneficiaries, Brother Ugochukwu Anyagwa, leader of  the Saint Vincent Dee Paul of Jesus our Saviour Catholic Parish, Bucknor said they see the needy persons as their masters.

Anyagwa thanked God for his grace upon them because according to him handling such persons is very difficult.

He said they have data base of those in need. They know those that need shelter, those in need of business support and those that need food in the interim.

“The needy are the most difficult set of people to handle. You need to exercise restraint and ask God to give you wisdom in dealing with them.

“You can hardly satisfy them because they are disturbed and concerned about tomorrow even when you are giving them today.

We regularly interact with them mostly on Saturdays during our meetings, they come with one challenge or the other. When they come, we write down their names, identify their problems and sought a means to help them.

“We help people to learn trade and start up business. Such claims are always verified.

“We don’t spend frivolously, the money people freely donate to support the needy. My society is thankful to the knights for this gesture, we pray that God enable and enrich them the more to go beyond,” he said.