An orphanage in the Federal Capital Territory, Honour Ground Home, has decried the action of some Nigerians who donate expired food items and other products to the orphanage.
Speaking while receiving food items from the Fire Officers Wives Association on Sunday, the head of the orphanage, Mrs. Blessing Ijenwa, lamented that the children at the orphanage got sick after consuming such expired food.
She said that the orphanage did not expect that people could donate expired goods to orphaned kids as they only found out most times during preparation or after consumption of the food.
“These children cry and feel sad when they receive expired or bad food items from well-meaning Nigerians, it’s heartbreaking,” she said.
She, therefore, commended FOWA for giving the orphanage high-quality food items that were safe for consumption.
Ijenwa said that the orphanage was appreciative of the donations but it was important to say that expired and spoilt foods were harmful to the children.
She pleaded with citizens to visit orphanages regularly to give orphans a sense of belonging in society.
“We show them love but it is important for people to visit and express love towards the children also.
“This will make them feel like they are not alone but with parents, because the society is their family,” she said.
Earlier, while presenting the items, FOWA President, Mrs. Uzezi Karebo, said that the action was part of the association’s efforts to commemorate the Easter celebration.
She said that there was a need to make the less privileged feel a part of the society as the Easter celebration would be incomplete without good food.
“Nigerians should not leave the less privileged alone, show love one way or the other so that they don’t feel alone,” she said.
A 19-year-old at the orphanage, Janice, said that the orphanage had not received food items from citizens for a long time, which she attributed to the location of the home.
While speaking on the bad quality of foodstuff donated to the orphanage by some citizens, she said that it was possible the donors were not aware of the state of the items donated.
“To them, they might think it is good for consumption but we pray God still blesses them.
“We also do hope that they realise the things they donated were not good and they decide to change their ways,” she said.
It was gathered that FOWA donated bags of rice, cartons of noodles and pasta, bags of cassava flour, detergent, and gallons of vegetable cooking oil, amongst others.
NAN