22 Elders FC doles out food items, gifts to widows, orphans at Mpape

By Albert Akota

The 22 Elders FC in Abuja has set to alleviate poverty among widows and orphans at Mpape by presented foodstuffs, gifts to them for this yuletide season.

The widows were given different type of foods such as bag of rice, oil, beverages, indomie, toiletries, spaghetti and among other household items.

Speaking to newsmen after presenting the food items to the widows in their various homes at Mpape, in Abuja over the weekend, chairman of the club, Ejimonye Isaac said the club sees Christmas and New Year celebration as a period of sharing love with needy and decided to cater for the widows and their orphans.

He said the one year old club was established primarily to play football and keep fit among its members as well as providing succour to the under-privilege ones in the community as corporate social responsibility.

“Our aim of coming together is to play to keep fit, but beyond playing to keep fit there is need to assist the people of the community. As a way of reaching out to the people of the community is what we are doing today and it is also our social corporate responsibility to where we live, “he said.

Also, vice chairman of the club, Adegboye Babanire assured the widows and their orphans that the club will continue to support them, stating that caring for them is a continuous thing.

According to him, the club will in the nearest future embark on awareness campaign to sensitise people of the community on their personal hygiene.

“I think it is just the beginning of good things we set to do as a club. Our motto is one love through exercise and we are out to correct some social vices in our society, particularly where we stay.

Anything good had to start with small step and what we have started today is a small step in the right direction. We hope to see a society where people are very happy. We know the issue of corruption, robbery and some social vices exhibited by young people in our society today and these some of the things we might look for in the near future to settle.

“We are barely a year and three months old, but what we were able to achieve within this short period is alarming. Come 2015, we will be a more purposeful club and we shall embark on awareness campaign to educate people issues that concern everybody like personal hygiene. Though we are satisfied of Ebola free but it is still an issue that we need to be caution about and as well as HIV and AID.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Charity Justin, commended the club their kind gesture, saying she was not expecting them to come her aid. “I did not expect this at all and I really appreciate what you people have done for me and my children. It show to me that even though my husband had left me and my children, I believe I still have many husbands who will care for me and my children and I thank the club, “ she said.