Grace & Light has been distributing food to vulnerable families affected by the Covid-19 lockdown in Jos.

Grace & Light received donations from our partners in AMEN Trust, as well as some other donations, which were used to distribute food to 102 local families.

When the word got out that food was being given out, more people came. It was hard to turn people away, knowing that they were also in need.

We took their names, trusting that if the lockdown continues we will be able to find some support for them.

Nigeria responded early to the danger of the Covid-19 pandemic by locking down much of the country. State governors make decisions to limit the spread of the virus.

The restrictions on movement affect the poor disproportionately as they are used to living hand-to-mouth, with no financial reserves or stores of food to tide them over periods when they cannot leave home.

The second time we did this food distribution, we decided that we would take the opportunity to spend some time talking to people to find out how the lockdown was affecting them and to share the good news of Christ with them.

Miriam, a 43-year-old tailor has four children, with a husband who is a driver and both cannot go out for work because of the lockdown. They end up fighting almost every day because there is no food in the house.

She was thankful for the package and the counselling and promised not to fight again but to trust God for their lives in the future.

Ladi, 39 years old and married to an auto mobile mechanic with five children had the same story. They live and eat out of their daily income but with the lockdown, they just depend on what neighbours give them.

They are glad they have something of their own to eat for some days until they are able to go out for work.

Many of these people went back home with a smile and knew it was a blessing from the Lord and prayed for those that gave the supplies for God’s blessings.

Counsellors prayed with many of them for God to forgive their ways of life that were not pleasing to Him, some for God to give them grace to follow Him truly and for others patience with spouses and children.

One of the people counselled that gave her life to Jesus Christ for the first time. The staff are following her up.

We still have a few packages for people that are really in need and come to the office to check if they can have something, some members and friends of Grace & Light gave money towards the food items.

During the two distributions we have been able to do, each family was given a bag containing rice, corn, sugar, gari (cassava), beans & Maggi seasoning). A package cost around £10.

The last distribution took place on 22 April, but we would like to do more. Lockdown continues for days at a time, meaning many families will continue to struggle to feed themselves.

If you would like to donate to help feed poor families, you can do so by clicking on the 'Donate' button, or by your usual way if you are an existing donor.