What is Sisters of the Poor?
Sisters of the Poor is a global organization that originated in the community around the local Columbia, Missouri area as they personally grew in contact with Sister Ursula through her local family and heard of her work across the globe in Nigeria. Sisters of the Poor of Abakaliki is a group of religious sisters and postulants located in Abakaliki, Nigeria who beg for food, feed the hungry and find ways to provide medical care for those who have no access to medical care.
This prompted them to originate the organization in August of 2018 in support of her mission- that people don’t go hungry and are taken care of when they need help. In disasters and hardships, Sister Ursula feeds and facilitates medical care for people in Africa and build stronger communities from within her local area in Nigeria.
Sisters of the Poor of Abakaliki is unrelated to or affiliated with Little Sisters of the Poor or other similar organizations. The Sisters of the Poor of Abakaliki is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity whose sole purpose is to raise funds to support the work of Sr. Ursula Anunobi and the Sisters of the Poor of Abakaliki. The Sisters of the Poor operates this sistersofthepoor.org website.
How can I help?
There are many ways to support Sisters of the Poor, including making a donation, praying for the Sisters and those they serve, telling others of their work, donating goods or services for fundraising efforts, or fundraising on their behalf.
Monetary donations are the most effective way to provide assistance. Sisters of the Poor uses financial donations to allow the maximum impact from donated resources to be used on purchasing needed items locally, which gives the local economy in Nigeria a boost, cuts down on transportation costs and shipping costs and is the quickest way to bring aid to those who need it most.
How much of my gift goes directly to help people in need?
Sisters of the Poor raises charitable donations and strives to ensure that the maximum amount of each donation goes directly to helping those in need. As a small organization with many volunteers, the organization maintains a low overhead and minimal administrative costs, so a high percentage of each gift goes toward the mission and helps people in need directly.
Who works for Sisters of the Poor?
Our Board of Directors are based in the Columbia, Missouri area in support of the organization. Their hard work and personal commitment to success provides Sister Ursula the resources she needs to care for people in need in Nigeria.
This work is not possible without many volunteers, donors and people who are passionate about taking care for the poor and needy, spreading the word about the Sisters and assisting others in channeling their blessings.
Who is Reverend Sister Ursula Ifeyinwa Anunobi?
Reverend Sister Ursula Ifeyinwa Anunobi was born in Ifite Dunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State. She attended her primary school at St. Mary’s Catholic School Lokoja, and thereafter proceeded to Queen of the Rosary College Nsukka, where she completed her WAEC.
Passionate about education, she proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where in 1990 she completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Education) in political science. She also trained as a teacher and worked in education for a short time. She is an accomplished daughter of Africa, political scientist, educationist and an accomplished Reverend.
Sister abandoned her training as a teacher to answer a spiritual calling to help the needy, the beggars, the widows, the fatherless, the down trodden. Her faith and spiritual calling has lead her life before all other acts.
Is Sisters of the Poor a religious organization?
Sisters of the Poor was founded by people who were motivated by their religious faith and is lead by their belief that we should respond to Jesus’ call to his followers to take care of the poor.
People of many faiths or no faith work here, and we provide assistance to anyone in need regardless of their beliefs. Care is extended to anyone in need, religious or not religious, Christian or not.
Does Sisters of the Poor accept material gifts, such as food, blankets, toiletries, and other non-monetary items?
Sisters of the Poor is unable to accept most material donations at this time. We are continually looking into options to accept more material gifts in the future.
Wherever possible, we source materials local to the areas being served. Often the cost of shipping materials to Nigeria is more expensive than the value of what is given. Because of this, it’s better to consider offering financial donations and gifts instead of item gifts. Funds can be used in Nigeria to acquire goods, usually at a lower cost, and avoiding the added cost of transportation.
Can I fundraise for Sisters of the Poor?
Yes, you can fundraise for Sisters of the Poor. Fundraising campaigns take many forms including but not limited to social media fundraising. Some people create fundraising pages for an event, their birthday, wedding, memorial, or in honor of someone they love. You can invite your community to donate and participate in your event from your fundraising page, by email, or by social media. It’s best to contact us directly for more information.
Will I receive a tax receipt for a donation? What about fundraising supporters?
Yes, Sisters of the Poor, which is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, will provide tax receipts for all cash, check and credit card donations made as long as the donor’s name and address is provided.
Can a Sisters of the Poor representative attend my online or in person event?
You can request a Sisters of the Poor representative attend your online event, or in person event if you are in the Columbia, Missouri area, by filling out a contact form and requesting this.
It’s possible that a representative from Sisters of the Poor could attend your event, depending on availability and the nature of the event. You can contact us directly to discuss this further.
Can I hold a raffle or auction for Sisters of the Poor?
Laws regarding events or appeals that involve gambling differ from state to state. It is your responsibility to ensure that the event complies with state laws.
Sisters of the Poor may have specific guidelines or restrictions regarding raffles or auctions depending on your state, so it’s best to contact us directly to discuss this further.
