By Deborah Coker
No fewer than 500 homes in Ohordua community in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo state on Tuesday benefitted from the annual Peter Esele food donation to the community and environs.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries cut across widows, the vulnerable as well as some other residents of the community.
Esele, a former president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), while presenting the food items said that the donation was in line with the spirit of the Christmas season.
He noted that Christmas was the season of reaching out in love, sharing and giving not just to family members and loved ones but to other people.
He also noted that it was common knowledge that while some homes and families would be fortunate to have more than enough to eat and celebrate during the Yuletide, some others may not be so fortunate.
“So, it is in view of this that in spite of the economic downturn in the country and astronomical increase in prices of goods in the market, I decided to sustain that which we have been doing for almost a decade now.
“At least with this little gesture, I know the beneficiaries would be able to enjoy the Christmas and New Year like the privileged ones in the society.
“Again, this is a season of love and sharing, so no better time to reach out in love than now,” the former president of the TUC said.
Mrs. Martha James, a widow and beneficiary, told NAN that the annual food donation was an occasion that several others in the community and environs looked forward to every year.
She noted that this was because with what she gets her family was sure of a great Yuletide celebration.
She prayed God to keep prospering, preserving and protecting the donor, while also calling on other privileged sons and daughters of the community to emulate him.
Also, Mr. John Aluede, another beneficiary said that the bag of rice given to him was like “manna from heaven”.
He noted that over the last few years the donor had ensured that the widows, vulnerable as well as residents in the community and environs celebrate the Christmas and New Year in happiness.
“His type is rare. Look around, we are all happy, this young man does not know many of us, yet he does not discriminate in his gesture.
“He has been doing this for almost a decade now, making sure that every household in Ohordua as well as others within the environs have food to eat during the Yuletide.
“My prayer is that God continue to bless and increase him and his family”, he said.
Mr. Anthony Akharele, another beneficiary thanked the donor for the gesture, adding that his joy knows no bound to have benefitted from the donation.
NAN reports that no fewer than 500 bags of rice of 50 Kilogrammes and 25 Kilogrammes were distributed to the beneficiaries.