Charity often begins with a simple act: seeing a need and responding to it.

For a family struggling to put food on the table, a food box can mean relief from the uncertainty of what the next meal will be. At the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI), this immediate support remains an important part of the work. But the organisation’s approach to charity goes beyond meeting today’s need.

LFBI is redefining what charity can look like by combining immediate assistance with interventions designed to create longer-term impact.

Through the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), families receive food support during periods of hardship. Through the Nutrition and Maternal Enhancement Programme (NUMEPLAN), mothers and children receive targeted nutrition support. EDUFOOD addresses the connection between food insecurity and education by supporting children whose learning can be affected by hunger.

But what happens beyond the food box?

Through the Backyard Family Farming intervention, LFBI helps households build pathways towards food production and livelihoods. 

This is charity viewed differently. It is not only about giving something to someone in need. It is about asking what more can be done to help people become more food secure, more resilient and better positioned for the future.

For LFBI, charity is not simply about what can be given today. It is also about what can be built for tomorrow.

This International Day of Charity, be part of building a future where support goes beyond immediate relief. Partner with LFBI, volunteer your time, or support an intervention that helps communities move towards lasting food security.