Imose Cares Foundation Feeds One Million Families Daily, Launches COVID-19 Relief Nigeria
By ABIODUN JIMOH
Imose Cares Foundation International, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has launched ‘Covid-19 Relief Nigeria’, an initiative designed as an instrument to collaborate and partner with Nigerian-based companies in response to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria.
Similarly, the ICFI also partner Nigerian NGO’s and other corporate donors both home and abroad to assist Nigerians and essential workers on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic that has ravaged the whole world.
The Foundation (ICFI), a registered non-governmental organization (NGO) in Nigeria which started in the year 2006, has gained a reputation within a short time as a concerned interest organization in charitable works and humanitarian responses within the country.
Speaking on the activities of the foundation, the founder and Initiator of Covid-19 Relief Nigeria, Mrs. Sophia Imose explained that they are an online effort to answer the immediate needs of the poor, the less fortunate, and at-risk Nigerian families especially children.
She hinted that the guiding philosophy of Imose Cares Foundation International for Covid-19 Relief Nigeria is ‘All hands on deck because food is a necessity, not a luxury.’
“We seek to pool all available resources both at home and in the diaspora to support the organized collective central efforts of the Federal Government to alleviate the effects of Covid-19 in Nigeria which is highly impacting on the masses especially with the strict lockdown enforced by the government in a bid to contain the spread of the virus, hereby forcing millions of families into distress due to extreme hunger.
Narrating further on the ICFI outreaches, she admitted that they have embarked on several outreaches recently in line with their goal of feeding one million families daily.
“On the April 10th and 11th, 2020, we reached out to rural dwellers at the Kaura community near Games village Abuja. We served them hot meals and also enlightened them about the pandemic. Also, on April 29th, 2020, we reached out to stranded construction workers at Obalende in Lagos Nigeria, who were unable to get to their homes and sleeping at the construction sites. we served them hot meals, water and soft drinks.
“We were able to reach out to vulnerable children at Isolo (Ishaga Community), Lagos Nigeria on May 2nd, 2020. These children were suffering from malnutrition as most families there were relying on only garri to feed the children as they lacked the basic necessities to make a cooked meal. We fed the children with nutritious meals and provided them with clean water.
“Between May 6th and 7th, 2020, we served over 200 hot meals to those in need at Obalende and Lagos Island respectively in Lagos Nigeria, while on May 9th, 2020; we brought relief to the Gbazango community at Kubwa, Abuja Nigeria. Cooked meals were served to the locals.
“Our goal is to bring help to the millions of families who are hungry and struggling to survive with no avenues of sustainment. Covid-19 Relief Nigeria will solicit food and domestic essentials from individuals and companies in Nigeria to feed one million families every day.
“We are also seeking for professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, certified life coaches to volunteer their time to help set up an online network for people needing professional mental health help due to the emotional toll of the COVID-19 crisis.
“Sessions would be held over the phone or on over video chat. The initiative is the first move by an NGO in Nigeria to try to address the mental health consequences that have arisen from the COVID-19 crisis.”
Speaking further, she mentioned other activities that the foundation has embarked upon apart from providing feeding. They are education materials, engaging student in lessons, medical supply and many others.
She revealed: “Covid-19 Relief Nigeria provides educational materials for homeschooling and other non-classroom learning for all grad
