By Dayo Johnson Akure

In a bid to ease the burden of widows during the yuletide season, a Non Governmental Organization, the Heart of Gold Foundation, has distributed food items and cash gifts to over 100 widows in Ondo and Ekiti states as part of its 2025 December Widow Outreach.

The Director General of the Foundation, Pastor Femi Akinlabi, said during the ceremony that ” the initiative was motivated by compassion and a commitment to support widows who might otherwise struggle to celebrate the Christmas season with joy and dignity

Akinlabi who spoke through the foundations Deputy Director General, Mr. Wole Akingbasote, said despite being registered less than six months ago and commencing operations in October 2025, noted that the foundation was already hosting its maiden outreach barely three months after its establishment.

The programme, he noted was funded entirely through personal contributions of members of the foundation, without grants or external sponsorship, with about N5 million spent on the outreach across both states.

Akinlabi while assuring the beneficiaries that they were not forgotten, urged them to remain hopeful.

He asked them to continue praying for the foundation to enable it do more for them and children in the two states.

According to him “with your prayers the foundation would grow and stabilize to be able to reach more vulnerable people in the future.

“We may not have much, but we identified the need around us and decided to act. Our goal is to put smiles on the faces of widows and reassure them that God has not forgotten them.

“This vision is borne out of the word of God as contained in the Bible (1 Timothy 5 vs 3- “Honour Widows that are widows indeed”) We are gathered here today to obey this word of God and within our limited resources, decided to honour the widows here today.

“We are doing this not because we have surplus money or because we are very rich but we have the felt need to help the widow around us who may find it difficult to celebrate Christmas.

“We want to spread the joy of Christmas to their homes in our own little way. We want to assure you that God is on your side and He (God) will not forsake you”

Also speaking, the foundation’s Director of Programmes, Mrs Oluwatoyin Adegbenro, pleaded with the widows to brace up and move on with their lives after the demise of their husbands.

Adegbenro, noted that widow should not allow themselves to be weighed down by misplaced anger from their inlaws following the death of their husbands.

According to her the exercise would be continuous as more widows and children would be empowered in both Ondo and Ekiti states.

Adegbenro said ” We’ll continue to give back to the society. We pray that all your labour over your children after death of your husbands won’t be in vain.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Oluwaseun Osamaye, lauded the Foundation for its timely and compassionate intervention, emphasizing that the foundation’s commitment to supporting widows at the grassroots is both commendable and impactful.

Osamaye said that gesture such as this would not only provide immediate relief to vulnerable widows but also empower them socially and economically

According to her “the initiative reinforce the importance of community-driven support alongside government programs aimed at enhancing the welfare of marginalized groups.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Iyabode Alayo, who lauded the foundation for the timely support, described the distribution of food items and cash gifts as a welcome relief in a period that can often be financially and emotionally challenging.

Alayo said that the assistance would go a long way in enabling them to celebrate the festive season with dignity, joy, and a renewed sense of hope.

According to her “gestures like this will not only address immediate needs of the widows but also restore their sense of worth and belonging within the community.

She said the initiative reinforced the message that widows are not forgotten and that acts of compassion can transform lives during the yuletide season.

In his goodwill message, Elder Titus Orimijupa Olaniran, said that his presence at the event was driven by a deep spirit of generosity and compassion, describing the outreach as a profound honour to humanity.

Orimijupa thanked the foundation”for their thoughtfulness and unwavering commitment to the welfare of the most vulnerable

He expressed heartfelt gratitude to women, particularly widows, whom he described as resilient and courageous, noting that widowhood is not a sin but a testament to strength.

” To the widows who grace this hall with their presence: your strength, resilience, and grace are a beacon to us all.

“You embody the true spirit of perseverance, and today, we celebrate not only the gifts you receive but the invaluable gifts you continue to give to your families and to our community as the head of families, by providence.

He encouraged widows not to lose hope but to remain strong and focused, especially in raising their children with care and balance.

Orimijupa, said that the gestures of the foundation reaffirmed society’s shared responsibility toward the vulnerable, encouraging the women to stay encouraged, trusting that God would continue to strengthen and uplift them despite life’s trials.

“Let me reassure you that the spirit of generosity of this foundation proves further that God isn’t done with any of you.