No fewer than 2,000 vulnerable Abuja residents on Sunday received food items, shoes and clothing from the Everlasting Arms Parish, Redeemed Christian Church of God in Garki.
The annual alms programme known as ”Tabitha Tent”, which began in 2007 is designed to support the poor and vulnerable with food items, clothes, and shoes among other humanitarian materials.
Some of the beneficiaries in an interview with newsmen, expressed their satisfaction and appreciation to the donors and organisers of the programme.
They called on the government to initiate policies and programmes such as Tabitha Tent to alleviate the suffering of the common man.
A beneficiary, Mr Gonet Jato, said that he received rice, beans and some other materials to support him and his family at the Yuletide.
“We thank Redeemed Church for what they have done for us, they have done so well, we appreciate them and may God bless them.
“To our President, the poor are suffering. Please look at what is happening in the country and do something to help the suffering man.
“It is not easy for us the poor, look at the crowd here, if not for Redeemed, what will be our hope? What we have received can take us for one to two weeks.
“Government should please look out for us as citizens of this country,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Ms Happiness Jacob, said: “I am very happy and grateful. I pray for those who gave all these gifts. May God open more ways for them so that they can keep on helping us.
“I got clothes, biscuits and rice. I want the government to come to our aid, especially during this Christmas season.
“People are suffering, going about looking for their daily bread to eat yet no food, we are suffering, many people are dying because of hunger,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Ms Victoria Ola, prayed that God would bless the members of the church and their supporters who made the 2024 Tabitha Tent possible.
She said that they had done so much to put smiles on the faces of the poor and beamed a ray of hope at such a difficult time in their lives.
“We are praying for those who gave us these items, may Almighty God bless them; they gave us a lot.
“They gave clothes, rice, beans and garri and some other things, I pray God to bless them in Jesus name.
“The person that brought this initiative and those who supported it, may God increase them more and I wish the government will support them so they can reach out to more poor people,” she said.
Earlier, Pastor Everistus Azodo, who is in charge of the parish called on well-to-do Nigerians to support the poor.
Azodo who is also the Assistant Provisional Pastor in charge of Christian Social Responsibility, identified the lack of functional social safety nets are one of the major problems in the country.
“One of the greatest challenges we have in our country is the lack of a proper social safety net; in many advanced countries, they have a welfare system that provides for the poor which is an official government function.
“In Nigeria, our social safety net has remained members of the extended family system but when you have a family where everyone is struggling, you can see that we have a real problem.