How Food Banks are Giving Back to the Community, This Ramadan
There’s a lot going on within the non-profit community this time of year, to help support people in need. Every year, dozens of organisations — particularly smaller ones, who may not have so many eyes on them — and everyday do-gooders organise outreaches and gather donations to feed thousands of people around the country.
This year, we’ve decided to spotlight a few of these people and groups, all around Nigeria, who are talking the talk and walking the walk — plus, how you can partner with them too.
Rene Noire (LAGOS)
I first came across @rene_noire’s Ramadan Feeding Program in 2021, but it actually started as far back as 2019, and it’s amazing to see it’s still going. The feeding program runs throughout the month of Ramadan, through the support and sponsorship of regular people.
The numbers have grown over the years and now Rene and her team provide meals to over 200 Muslim Lagosians in need, daily. This year alone, she’s raised more than N2 million for the program and shares updates nearly every day on Twitter.
Oja NG (LAGOS)
Oja NG is an online marketplace delivering fruit packages to mosques in Lagos every day, this Ramadan. All you have to do to partner with them is order a N10000 package and they’ll deliver it to those in need at a local mosque.
Fruitsip NG (LAGOS)
You can also partner with Fruitsip NG to provide fruit packs or hampers to mosques in Lagos. Their packages range from N600 fruit packs, which they can deliver to thousands, to N10000 fruit hampers.
They’ll deliver the package on your behalf or send it to you so you can deliver it yourself — whichever you prefer.
Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (ONDO)
MSSN is providing Iftar (the meal eaten after sunset during Ramadan) throughout the month, for students of Federal University of Technology (FUTA) in Akure. The target is the 300 Muslim students who are regularly part of the feeding program, and they’re always open to donations and support.
They also have different packages for donators, which helps.
Feed the Vulnerable Families in Nigeria Foundation (countrywide)
FTVF provides free meals for Muslim families in need across 32 states in Nigeria. They plan on raising N100 million to feed 4800 people across the country, and report to have raised about N6 million so far, and reached 8 states, including Lagos. They’re a registered NGO as well, which helps with legitimacy.
Ramadan Mubarak to everyone celebrating!