COVID-19: NGO to establish food bank to support vulnerable households

An NGO, Women Initiate for Sustainable Environment (WISE) on Monday unveiled plans to establish a food bank to support vulnerable households in Kaduna State.
It’s Founder and Programme Director, Ms Olanike Olugboji made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.
Olugboji said the move had become necessary following the challenge the outbreak of Coronavirus had brought against institutional response to hunger.
She said the effect of COVID-19 on the economy had brought untoward hardship on many poor households across the country.
According to her, government and community response to hunger among poor households has been affected by the pandemic.
She said the project would be implemented within the framework of the organisation’s food security intervention scheme.
The WISE proramme director said that community-based poor households would be profiled to determine their food needs to ensure effective delivery of the project.
Olugboji further said that the body would partner restaurants, donors and other stakeholders to provide items to equip the food bank.
“Our food relief shall only be channelled to those in need. the essence is to support what the government and other organisations are doing in this area.
“Gaps still exist in the food needs of people, especially with the outbreak of COVID-19, the poor and vulnerable households are going through a lot of pains,” she said.
NAN reports that WISE is involved in mobilising women to address harmful cultural and environmentally destructive practices.
The NGO also promotes gender equality, women empowerment and sustainable community development in Kaduna State. (NAN)