A Little Charity Goes A Long Way: Introducing Food Banks -By Marie Obiora

One good thing I have learnt from watching international news channels during this pandemic is that food banks exist. Food banks are basically locations where those with extra food drop off some food and those who need food go and pick some up. Food banks are mostly run by NGO’s and Charities.

The way it works is that individuals, groups, Organizations and Government take food to the food bank and the food bank in return distributes food to the needy who line up for some. For food banks to be successful donations of food must be steady and constant. It is necessary to have at least one food bank in every Local Government Area in Nigeria.

Donations from individuals can be in small quantities e.g. ten cups of rice, from groups it may be larger, e.g. two bags of rice and for Corporate bodies and Government it could be as large as 500 bags of rice periodically, either weekly, monthly or quarterly. The very essence is that food is packaged and handed out in quantities that can feed an average family of six for one week. This will entail measuring items such as rice and gari into appropriate portions e.g. ten cups. There will also be need for food items such as dried fish and beans for protein, oil and condiments such as sachet tomato and spices to go with the raw rations.  It may also be necessary to make special packages for children which will include chocolate beverages and milk. Baby packages will require baby milk and cereals.

Distribution of food packages should be without discrimination based on creed, tribe or gender and should be simply on a first come first serve basis. Distribution stores of food banks will be best located close to slums and low-income areas while collection stores should be located in highbrow areas e.g. a food bank collection store could be located in Lekki or Victoria Island and a food bank distribution store could be located in Ajegunle or Mushin. Ideally there should be more collection stores than distribution stores for sustainability.

Considering food banks on a State by State basis; some Local Government Areas in some States, especially those with large commercial towns, will serve as collection centers for smaller Local Government Areas which might not be able to have effective collection stores. Any NGO or Charity that wants to run food banks must carefully plan locations for collection centers and those for distribution. Food banks can only exist when the society at large supports those who run them, once this support in way of food donations are stopped, then the food banks will disappear. Nigerians are well meaning people and I am confident that once NGO’s or Charities start some, they will lend their utmost support.