Over 300 vulnerable and less privileged persons including 86-year-old widow, Mrs Francisca Okoye, of Umunneoke Village Awka have received succour for Easter celebration from the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor .Bishop Ezeokafor distributed the relief materials worth millions of naira at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka. Paul Ezeoke reports that the beneficiaries who are from different religious background comprising men, women, youths, the aged including septuagenarians and octogenarians received among other things, bags of rice , loaves of bread, clothing materials , shoes, umbrellas , cartoons of noodles, tubers of yam, cocoayam, cocoanuts and other food items.
Speaking while distributing the items to the beneficiaries, Bishop Ezeokafor encouraged them to accept challenges of life in good faith as God remains with them always and explained that those selected for the Easter gifts are poorest of the poor in the society who need compassion and assistance.According to the Bishop, there are many people in the society who are really suffering and poor and can not afford one square meal let alone three square meals per day , pointing out that religious denomination was of no consequence in work of charity as what matters according to him was living a good life and touching the lives of others.
He frowned at the increasing practice of begging in the society, regretting that some people have turned it into a profession, urging those who can still fend for themselves to venture into things that are worthwhile and morally justifiable to maintain their self esteemand called on good spirited individuals, groups and organisations to come to the aid of the poor and the downtrodden in society .In her reaction, the octogenarian widow Mrs Okoye who was full of gratitude, prayed God to continue to bless the Bishop to touch more lives.
In separate interviews some other beneficiaries including Mrs Josephine Igwe from Enugw-Ukwu and Mrs Joy Okafor said Bishop Ezeokafor over the years have continued to give succour to vulnerable people in the society and urged other religious leaders to emulate him.
