1,500 FCT residents smiled home on Sunday with food items, clothes, shoes, and other household supplies at an outreach organised in Garki, Abuja, weeks before the Yuletide. The beneficiaries received the items at the Tabitha Tent, an annual outreach of the Everlasting Arms Parish, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Garki, Abuja, where hundreds gathered in hope of relief as economic hardship continues to affect many families.

Some of the beneficiaries described the gesture as timely and a lifeline. Miss Fatima Adamu, who left the venue with rice, beans, and garri, said she felt relieved and uplifted. According to her, the support could not have come at a better time. “I feel very happy, thank you to the organisers, I really appreciate this,” she said, smiling as she carried her packages home.

Another beneficiary, Mr Marcus Danjuma, said the supplies would sustain him for weeks. “I got food, I am very happy for what God has done for me. This food will sustain me for a while and I really appreciate what God did for me,” he said. He prayed that God would open more doors for the organisers so they could continue their outreach.

Similarly, Miss Kadijat Badamasi, who attended the programme with her mother, said the event brought hope to her family. “I got rice, beans, garri and clothes, and we really appreciate,” she said, adding that the experience strengthened her faith in community support.

Addressing journalists at the event, Pastor Paul Haruna explained that the Tabitha Tent was created to extend fellowship to vulnerable persons regardless of tribe, region, or creed. He noted that the church provides food, clothing, bags, and even furniture, adding that God had continually supported the programme over the years. “We provide food, clothing, bags, furniture, and over the years God has been helping us. We are trusting God we will do more next time,” he said.

Haruna highlighted that hunger remains widespread across the country, making outreach efforts crucial. “As we can see, the hunger in the land is much and the best we can do is to reach out to the needy, and in our own very little way, as a church, we are giving this token to the less privileged,” he said. He added that over 1,500 people attended this year’s outreach and received food items such as rice, beans, garri, and clothes. He also appealed to government to reach vulnerable people with food, shelter, and clothing so that everyone could eat this season. “As we do so, may God bless every arm of government in Jesus name,” he said.

Assistant Pastor Ngozi Azodoh described the outreach as an opportunity for people to “shop without money,” noting that the programme reflects the heart of the church’s service to its community. “We call it shopping without money. It is at the heart of the service of the church to the people; what we do is to celebrate Jesus with our community,” she said. She explained that beyond material support, the church hoped the beneficiaries would experience spiritual encouragement. “Everyone is happy, it is an opportunity for us to minister to them physically and spiritually and we are hoping that in living the life of Jesus Christ, and sharing with them, they will come and see the love and goodness of Christ,” she added.

Azodoh pointed out that hunger existed long before recent hardship, noting that Tabitha Tent had operated for almost 20 years. She also said government could support the people more, even as she acknowledged existing efforts through initiatives. “I nominated two people for the Renewed Hope Support Initiative for the less-privileged people and they actually got N200,000 each and we are grateful to the government for that,” she stated.

The Coordinator of the programme, Mrs Modupe Ogundimu, also confirmed that the outreach had run for two decades, supported by individuals and groups. “We just want to say thank you to God and to everyone who has supported this initiative, and we pray God to bless them with joy, peace and love in the new year,” she said.