COVID-19: Church offers its facility as emergency isolation centre

Harvesters International Christian Centre, has offered its facility in the Anthony area of Lagos as an emergency isolation centre for COVID-19 patients.

In a statement on Tuesday, Bolaji Idowu, the senior pastor, said it is part of the church’s contribution to the fight against coronavirus.

He also announced several relief interventions that the church is implementing to aid the fight against coronavirus as well as support vulnerable members of the public.

Idowu said “the Harvesters COVID-19 response project” is the church’s coordinated social initiative to help people in Lagos deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant hardship it has caused many.

He said in the last two weeks, the church has distributed 57,552 meals to 2,398  families under its “Harvesters Food Bank” programme across 15 locations in Lagos.

“The church says it is currently collating details of people that need help with feeding and aims to distribute another 42,000 meals and food packs within the next week,” he said in the statement.

“Also, the church has begun registering individuals who may not benefit from the feeding programme for its cash donation of ₦2,500. According to the church, the aim is to reach 1000 people with this cash relief initiative.

“Other planned humanitarian efforts include the repurposing of the campus at Anthony in Lagos as an isolation centre and ongoing “A Loaf Can Make a Difference” initiative aimed at encouraging members of the public to reach out and care for their neighbours during these difficult times.

“At Harvesters, we’re not just a church. We’re community builders with a message of hope. As the lockdown in our cities continues, we understand the challenges this has caused many vulnerable people in our society and because we care, we have made and will continue to make critical interventions to help alleviate these challenges.”