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1./ I’ve never given serious thought to TL giveaways and what those giveaways might mean to the recipients.
I’m more of a believer in “Charity begins at home.” I prefer to reach out to those I know.
At the height of the lockdown,
I’m more of a believer in “Charity begins at home.” I prefer to reach out to those I know.
At the height of the lockdown,
2./ I tried to reach out to as many of my known people who I figured were daily earners and send them what I could.
Sometimes I thought the effusive thanks and prayers were simply a function of our Nigerian drama. Yesterday, I was speaking to one of those my peeps.
Sometimes I thought the effusive thanks and prayers were simply a function of our Nigerian drama. Yesterday, I was speaking to one of those my peeps.
3./ She shared her lockdown story with me. The reason I’m sharing this is because I think harder times lie ahead, and for as many of us as have anyone in our orbit that we may be able to help in any small measure, reach out if you can.
My person was on Facebook one afternoon;
My person was on Facebook one afternoon;
4./ her son leaned over her shoulder. . .
“Mummy what are you doing?”
“I’m writing my name for something.”
“For what Mummy?”
“Someone is giving away money. I’m putting down my name and account number. Maybe they will pick me and send us some money.”
“Mummy what are you doing?”
“I’m writing my name for something.”
“For what Mummy?”
“Someone is giving away money. I’m putting down my name and account number. Maybe they will pick me and send us some money.”
5./ Later that night, during family altar, he says to her;
“Mummy you have to pray that the person giving away the money picks you. We really want to have some chips. Can we not have something else apart from ogi?”
My person smiled a pained smile.
“Mummy you have to pray that the person giving away the money picks you. We really want to have some chips. Can we not have something else apart from ogi?”
My person smiled a pained smile.
6./ She wondered how to explain to her son that they were fortunate to have ogi because some people were worse off.
Early the next morning, he rushed to her room. “Mummy did they send the money?”
Unfortunately she wasn’t picked in that giveaway.
Early the next morning, he rushed to her room. “Mummy did they send the money?”
Unfortunately she wasn’t picked in that giveaway.
7./ “No dear, they haven’t sent it yet. Don’t worry. Soon.”
She says she didn’t get picked, but about 2 days later received from me. She was over the moon. She called and said some really effusive prayers and told me how appreciative she was. I didn’t think much of it.
She says she didn’t get picked, but about 2 days later received from me. She was over the moon. She called and said some really effusive prayers and told me how appreciative she was. I didn’t think much of it.
8./ BTW, she says she didn’t buy the potatoes to make chips because they were too expensive and things were too dire. She preferred to buy food that would stretch further for the family.
She’s not a lazy person, neither is her husband.
She’s not a lazy person, neither is her husband.
9./ Just before the lockdown, they pooled their resources to pay rent and family finances were almost at zero
Lockdown came unexpectedly and it was tough. Not given to begging, they did everything to stretch what little they had as best as they could.
Lockdown came unexpectedly and it was tough. Not given to begging, they did everything to stretch what little they had as best as they could.
10./ Until it got too tough and she began to seek giveaways.
Her story was an eye opener. No one seeing her would guess how bad it was for her family. She looks ok on the surface.
Life is hard and it’s closer to us than we may realize.
Her story was an eye opener. No one seeing her would guess how bad it was for her family. She looks ok on the surface.
Life is hard and it’s closer to us than we may realize.
