The Ark — Compassion in Action
The Open Market
A marketplace of mercy. Where rice, oil, plantain and fresh food are given freely to widows, orphans and the most vulnerable — and sold at 40–60% below market price to families who cannot afford to feed their children.
The Vision
More than a market. A haven of hope.
Rev. Lesley Mbuagbor's commitment to serving others extends beyond the pulpit and the classroom. The Open Market is her response to a simple, painful truth: in every community, there are mothers who skip meals so their children can eat, elders who ration salt for the month, and widows who walk past markets they cannot enter.
Here, no one is shamed for being hungry. Food, oil, salt, fresh produce and household essentials are stocked weekly and shared — freely with the most vulnerable, and at deeply subsidized prices for working families who still cannot make ends meet. It is a marketplace where dignity is never on the price tag.
What's on the shelves
Real food. Real essentials. Real love.
Grains & Staples
Rice, maize flour, garri, beans, semolina
Cooking Oils & Salt
Refined palm oil, vegetable oil, iodized salt
Proteins
Fresh chicken, smoked fish, dried fish, eggs
Fresh Produce
Plantain, tomato, onion, pepper, vegetables
Household Essentials
Soap, detergent, sanitary kits, candles, matches
Festive Bundles
Christmas, Ramadan & back-to-school packages
How it works
From wholesale crate to family table.
Stock the Market
We source rice, oil, fresh produce, chicken and household essentials at wholesale — directly from local farmers and partners.
Identify the Vulnerable
Community leaders, churches and field volunteers refer widows, orphans, the elderly, single mothers and displaced families.
Open the Doors
On distribution days, families collect kits free of charge. Working families can buy the same goods at 40–60% below market price.
Restore Dignity
Every visitor is welcomed, prayed with, and treated as family — no queues of shame, just love in action.
Sponsor a Kit
Turn one gift into a full pot at dinner.
Every kit is sourced wholesale, packed by volunteers and delivered with prayer. You receive a confirmation, the family's first name, and a photo from distribution day.
Mama Kit
Feeds 1 family for 2 weeks
- 5 kg rice
- 2 L cooking oil
- 1 kg salt
- Smoked fish
- Tomato & onion bundle
- Soap & sanitary pads
Family Kit
Feeds 1 family for 1 month
- 12.5 kg rice
- 5 L cooking oil
- Chicken
- Plantain bundle
- Garri & beans
- Household essentials
Community Crate
Feeds 5 vulnerable families
- 5 Family Kits
- Free delivery to neighbourhood
- Photo report to donor
- Named blessing card
- Prayer follow-up
On the ground
Real distributions. Real faces. Real joy.
Who receives freely
No queue of shame.
- Widows & single mothers raising children alone
- Orphans and youth-led households
- The elderly with no income or family support
- Persons with disabilities and chronic illness
- Internally displaced families fleeing conflict
- Anyone in genuine hardship — referred by a community leader or church
Distribution schedule
When the doors open.
Three ways to stand with us
Give. Serve. Send.
Donate in kind
Bring sealed rice, oil, salt, garri, beans, sanitary kits or new clothing. We'll send you the drop-off address by WhatsApp.
Volunteer
Pack kits, drive deliveries, shop for produce, or pray with visitors. Saturdays from 7 AM — every hand matters.
Refer a family
Know a widow, orphan or family in real need? Send their first name, neighbourhood and situation — confidentially.
Open the help form →Common questions
Before you give or receive.
Is the Open Market really free?+
For widows, orphans, the elderly, the disabled and any family referred as vulnerable — yes, 100% free. Working families pay a small subsidized price (40–60% below market) so the project can keep restocking.
Who decides who receives a free kit?+
Local pastors, community leaders and our field volunteers refer recipients. We also keep a confidential walk-in list — no one is turned away in real hunger.
Can I donate food instead of money?+
Yes. Bring sealed rice, oil, salt, garri, beans, sanitary items or new clothing to our drop-off point any weekday between 9 AM and 5 PM.
How do I sponsor a specific family?+
Choose a Mama Kit, Family Kit or Community Crate above and send a WhatsApp pledge. We will match your gift to a named family and send you a photo report.
Can my church or business partner with the Open Market?+
Absolutely. We welcome bulk donors, harvest partners, transport sponsors and corporate CSR partnerships. Reach out via WhatsApp.
One kit. One family. One full plate at dinner tonight.
The shelves are stocked. The volunteers are ready. The only thing missing is your decision to stand in the gap for a hungry household this week.