Friends of Mack 10 Feed the Needy in the Freetown Municipality

On the Eve of Eid-ul Fitri…

By Adizzo Kay

Friends of Mack 10, a reputable humanitarian organisation that strongly believes in helping the vulnerable class, has on Saturday 28th March 2025 distributed huge items of food condiments to beggars and the needy from the East to the West Ends of Freetown. This year, according to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alhaji Ibrahim Sorie Kamara fondly called Mack 10, the distribution commenced from the West(Lumley) and ended to the East(Cassell farm). The philanthropic CEO narrated to this media practitioner how it all boils down to sacrificing and committing their hard earned income to save lives. Food, he says is an essential commodity that sustains livelihood and therefore, they have been deeming it fit to provide large quantities to those in dire need every year, especially on the Eve of Eid prayer. Kamara expressed his thanks and appreciation to Friends, brothers and sisters who are living in the Diaspora for supporting this humanitarian cause; the cause which is genuine and non-political; the cause which is poised to let vulnerable people know that they are cared for. The down to Earth CEO affirmed that the aforementioned organisation is willing to offer more by God’s Grace. The transformative CEO updated that this year, with the amount collected, they were able to buy fifty (50) bags of rice, five (5) bags of onions, thirteen (13) cartoons of tomatoes and twenty-one (21) packets of maggie

“Serving humanity with utmost transparency is key in our operations. We are always ready to mitigate suffering on our people in our own ways. This year’s donation is special. Special in the sense, things are extremely difficult in the country, and quite a good number of people are finding it difficult to afford a meal per day, especially when Eid-ul Fitri is just around the corner. At least our food donations are usually a good start for the Eid celebrations among the vulnerables( devoid of their religious backgrounds). We give to the aged,Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and even some young people who are struggling to survive. This is our 6th Edition, and we are hopeful to incorporate other areas in our subsequent donations by God’s Grace. This timely gesture will not stop and we are excited because the beneficiaries are always in high spirits, appreciating our timely offer and fervently praying for us for more greener pastures. We shall stick to our plan and will resist any political interference. We will continue to keep it as unique as it has been over the years” He ended.

Isatu, a disable in Lumley, expressed her unflinching gratitude to Friends of Mack 10 and is appealing to other Sierra Leoneans living in the Diaspora to follow the foot step of Friends of Mack 10. She revealed in tears that the said organisation is a special blessing to humanity. Santigie,a blind beggar at Goderich street disclosed that had it not been Friends of Mack 10, he should have spent the Eid with an empty stomach.

Other vulnerable people along Mountain Cut, Up Gun, Cassell farm and environs were celebrating the timely gesture and they are still praying for the organizers and funders of this year’s donation.

However, Chairman Osman Orfinoh Kamara updated this Press that Saturday 28th March 2025 marked the 6th Edition of donation of food items to the needy and vulnerable people within the Freetown municipality. He optimised that Friends of Mack is a humanitarian organisation that seeks the welfare of the common people, especially at this crucial moment of economic hardship in the country. Chairman Orfinoh continued with a background of how Friends of Mack 10 started. He says the nonprofit making organization was formed on the 31st March 2020 and members in the Diaspora sent their first charity assistance in August 2020. On that occasion, it is told that Eighty (80) bags of rice ,thousands of face masks and other essential items,including maggie cubes, tomatoes palm oil, onions and more. In a joyous mood, he explained how the donations have grown to food condiments being distributed to beggars and the less privileged within the Freetown municipality (from East to West) in the eve of Eid-ul Fitri(Pray Day).

“Our brothers and sisters residing in the Diaspora are putting their resources together to ensure that the said event is successful every year. They are selfless philanthropists who believe in helping humanity when in dire need. We are always remembering them in our prayers for their kind thoughts and special blessings to humanity back home. I am urging other Sierra Leoneans living in the Diaspora to emulate the compassionate nature of Friends of Mack 10”. He concluded.

As the event gained momentum, the Deputy Secretary General of Friends of Mack 10, Kadijatu Osaio Kamara, intimated this Media Practitioner that Friends of the aforesaid organisation have been putting their finances together in order to put smiles on the frowned faces of vulnerable people along Lumley, Goderich street, East End Police, Mountain Cut via Kissy Road, Cassell farm community and environs. She stated that it is a yearly routine and the distribution of food items is normally done on the eve of Eid Mubarak and it is fortunate this year to coincide with the Lent season. She assured that Friends of Mack 10 are always willing to give back to the country where they originated.

The eloquent Deputy Scribe expressed how emotional the beneficiaries were and how grateful they are to Friends of Mack 10 for putting food on their tables, especially on the Eve of Eid-ul Fitri. She disclosed that words are not enough to express how grateful and excited the beneficiaries were and went further to say, some burst into tears of joy for the surprised packages.