“Soup Kitchen” may look unfamiliar but the relationship between soup and kitchen gives a vivid description of what it ought to be. Soup Kitchen simply is a place where people who have no money can get soup and other food free.

When therefore the Wife of the Vice President, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan chose Saturday, March 22, 2008 to celebrate the Easter with the poor and the less privileged in our society with a soup kitchen, it dawned on many that our leaders are indeed recognizing a simple but powerful truth that we need each other and we must care for one another in service. Truly, it is time to redress wrongs and repair damaged relationships. It is very clear that the collaboration between the church and the government is possible and necessary in leveraging the plight of the needy.

On the said day, the less privileged and the poor were gathered at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama and St. Mathews Anglican Church , Maitama by the different church organizations. Addressing the two gatherings differently, Mrs. Jonathan stated that it is more blessed to give than to receive saying that everyone is a unique part of God and deserve the right to enjoy the good things of life. She maintained that her desire to show God’s love to the poor prompted the idea of a soup kitchen. She appealed to the privileged ones in the society to assist the poor in what ever way and also assured that the present administration has the interest of the people at heart.

The messages of the Wife of the Vice President immediately became the catalyst needed to raise the profile of the less privileged at the gatherings.

Immediately, they became like the early children of Israel, full of hope. According to Sydney smith, poverty is no disgrace to a man, but it is confoundedly inconvenient. There may be a pleasure in poverty but it is a retrospective one. Therefore, anyone who helps any human being from degradation is surely doing God’s work and anyone who improves the lot of humanity glorifies God.

To those who know Dame Jonathan, she has always appreciated any work that concerns itself with alleviating the sufferings of the poor and the less privileged. She founded the Aruera Reachout Foundation, a project initiated in 2006 when she was the wife of the Bayelsa State Governor..

The project gives attention to mothers by helping them to acquire skills which will empower them economically and make them self-reliant. This NGO has major focus that will chart a course for self-empowerment for the masses of the Niger Delta region.

The foundation has even extended its obligation in reaching out to the elderly with gift items such as food stuff and provision of drugs. It is good to keep ones ideas and ideals alive. This is because ideas are living things that can grow and multiply when you improve on them. The wife of the vice president out of her largesse donated bags of rice, clothes, cartons of soaps, pampers and hosts of other house hold items to be shared among the less privileged and also pledged her readiness to assist anytime she is called upon.

The climax of the Easter Soup Kitchen celebrations was Mrs. Jonathan’s visit to St. Mary’s Home for Orphans and Destitute in Gwagwalada. He was accompanied to the orphanage by wives of senators, members of House of Representatives and ambassadors. While there, she was emotionally touched with the plight of the children and immediately offered scholarship to three of the orphans up to university level with a promise to assist the management of the orphanage in tackling the problems facing the home. She also donated bags of rice and other household items to the home. According to the Reverend Sister-in-Charge of the Home, Dame Jonathan’s visit to the Home happens to be the first by any public servant or their spouses.

Talking to the orphans, Her Excellency said “for the Reverend Sisters in charge of the Home, I tell you, do not be tired. These children cannot pay you. But God in heaven will reward you. Continue your exemplary life like that of Mother Theresa…” She said “I am here to celebrate Easter with you. I’m here to share love with you and say happy Easter”. A touching and heart-rending situation presented itself when a little girl, an inmate of the orphanage became restless and insisted that the Vice president’s wife carries her. She only rested when she was lifted into the loving arms of a mother per excellence-Vice President’s Wife.

Benevolence is a virtue of the highest order. People say it has brought immeasurable benefit to humanity.

How then do we describe the VP’s wife? She is a first class mother and a kind hearted woman who is never tired of giving. She is a role model whose commendable gesture is worthy of emulation.

Let us learn to help the weak and to serve the poor and meek,so that when death wins, we should not miss that pathway that leads to eternal bliss. Mrs.

Jonathan is doing a wonderful job.

Mr. Makanju is a Resident Information Officer to the Wife of the Vice President makanjsams@yahoo.com