A local charity has distributed food and non-food supplies to elderly residents in a rural community outside Liberia's capital, calling on lawmakers to pass long-delayed legislation aimed at improving welfare for older people.

The Prince and Tawa Woods Foundation donated 50 bags of 25 kg rice and other basic items to residents of the Breakthrough Community in Louisiana Township, Montserrado County, amid what community leaders described as worsening living conditions for the elderly.

During the distribution, the foundation urged the Liberian Senate to pass the National Commission for the Elderly in Liberia (NCEL) bill, which would establish a body to oversee rehabilitation centers, provide vocational training and address gaps in social protection for older citizens.

The House of Representatives approved the bill in August 2021 after it was introduced by then-lawmaker Richard Nagbe Koon, now the Speaker of the House. The legislation has since remained before the Senate without concurrence.

Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn

Prince Woods, executive director of the foundation, said the donation was intended to support vulnerable residents as Liberia marked the birth anniversary of former president Joseph Jenkins Roberts. He said the organization plans to conduct similar monthly donation exercises across Montserrado County.

Woods added that the foundation would continue mobilizing resources to assist elderly people and disadvantaged youth, particularly in addressing food insecurity and limited access to education.

Community chairman Morris Dixon welcomed the donation, describing it as timely relief for elderly residents. Speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, 80-year-old Ma-Hawa Kamara said older people in the community face persistent hardship, including illness, lack of medication, and the need to farm to survive.