120 families receive nutritional packages and cash for Christmas
In the spirit of Christmas and in alignment with the mission of After God’s Heart Inc. (AGH) to demonstrate love, compassion, and practical support to the most vulnerable, SHEAD (Shepherd for Health, Environment Advocacy and Development) Centre implemented the AGH Christmas Nutritional Support Program across Osun and Kwara States. The distribution of nutritional support was conducted using a cluster-based approach across both states. Kwara State cluster included Ilorin West, Ilorin South, and Ilorin East. The Osun State cluster included Irewole, Iwo, Osogbo, Ifelodun, and Ife.
Through this intervention, vulnerable individuals, such as widows and people with disabilities, together with families with financial needs across our target communities, received essential food items and cash support, enabling them to celebrate the Christmas season with dignity and hope. Beyond meeting immediate nutritional needs, the initiative provided reassurance to beneficiaries by showing them that they are seen, valued, and supported, especially during a period that can be particularly challenging for those facing economic hardship.
The AGH Christmas outreach award to SHEAD was in response to heightened economic challenges commonly experienced during the festive season, including food insecurity, rising food prices, financial strain, and social isolation among vulnerable populations. To address these challenges, the program provided essential food items and a cash payment to each beneficiary. By combining food assistance with direct cash support, the intervention sought to restore dignity, promote well-being, and enable beneficiaries to participate meaningfully in the Christmas celebration.
A total of 120 vulnerable individuals were reached through the program, comprising 60 beneficiaries in Osun State and 60 beneficiaries in Kwara State. As a result of the intervention, beneficiaries experienced improved meal adequacy during the festive period, reduced immediate financial stress, and increased dignity, inclusion, and emotional well-being, particularly at a time when economic hardship often limits participation in seasonal celebrations.
The active participation of key stakeholders at both state and community levels strengthened the successful implementation of the AGH Christmas Nutritional Support Program. Their presence and involvement underscored the program’s credibility, relevance, and collaborative approach to supporting vulnerable populations. Notably, the Director of Program, Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), and Chairperson, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr. Queen Ogbuji Ladipo, were present and actively participated in the distribution of food items, particularly to selected DR-TB patients, demonstrating solidarity and high-level support for vulnerable health-affected populations.
At the state level, the program benefited from the participation of the State Program Managers in both states, Dr. Lawal-Lah Fatima (Kwara State) and Dr. Oladele Rotimi (Osun State), as well as the DR-TB focal persons from Kwara and Osun States. Their involvement provided programmatic oversight, strengthened coordination, and reinforced alignment with existing state health responses. The program also recorded the active participation of Local Action Committee on AIDS (LACA) Managers across the implementing LGAs. The LACA Managers supported community-level coordination, beneficiary mobilization, and linkage with local structures, contributing significantly to smooth implementation and accountability at the grassroots level.
Furthermore, religious and community leaders played a vital role in beneficiary identification, mobilization, and community acceptance of the intervention. Their engagement fostered trust, promoted transparency, and reinforced community ownership of the program. Overall, the participation of these stakeholders cannot be overemphasized, as it significantly contributed to the effectiveness, transparency, and successful delivery of the AGH Christmas Nutritional Support Program.
The AGH Christmas Nutritional Support Program demonstrated practical, faith-driven compassion during the festive season. It reinforced the shared mission of SHEAD Centre and After God’s Heart Inc. to serve humanity with love and dignity. Overall, the initiative reflects the shared commitment of SHEAD Centre and After God’s Heart Inc. to serve humanity, strengthen community resilience, and extend faith-driven compassion in practical and impactful ways. SHEAD Centre sincerely appreciates After God’s Heart Inc. for the financial support, partnership, and trust, which made this program possible.
