In many parts of Africa, a widow is pushed to the very fringes of society. She becomes an outcast, unseen and unheard, her grief multiplied by rejection and blame. Each tribe has its own traditions, but the reality is the same: when her husband dies, so does her place in the world.
Many widows are considered cursed, accused of being the cause of their husband’s death—even if it was from disease or a tragic accident. This belief completely isolates her, making her untouchable, even to her closest friends. To be accepted into the fold again, she may be forced into rituals that strip away her dignity. And if she survives that, she can be “inherited” by another man, who takes her home, her possessions, and whatever else he wants, with no obligation to care for her. Her voice is silenced. Her worth is diminished. She is left to fight for her family on her own.
It’s hard to wrap my mind around it all, even now, as I sit in Tanzania, walking alongside Jacinta—our partner, very close friend, and fellow widow. Earlier this year, Jacinta’s life was shattered when her husband, John, died in a terrible accident. She’s carrying unimaginable grief, yet here she is, leading this year’s Widow’s Christmas Food Blessing with a strength I can only describe as God-given.
Last year, God stirred my heart to be here for this. His message was simple but piercing: You never know how long you have. I couldn’t have imagined what that would mean. I didn’t know John would suddenly be gone. I didn’t know that, at his funeral, a government official would stand in front of hundreds of widows and announce, “Your Christmas blessing is now gone.” And I didn’t know that Jacinta and I—two widows—would be here together, determined to remind other women walking this hard road that they are not forgotten.
This Christmas Food Blessing is about so much more than food. It’s a voice of hope to women who feel unseen and cast aside. Each basket is a tangible reminder that they matter, that God sees them and cares for them. It’s a chance to say, “You are not forgotten. You are loved.”
Jacinta and I are pressing forward, walking together to make sure these widows know they’re not alone. And we can’t do it without you. This year, we have a $10,000 match, which means every dollar you give will go twice as far. Together, we can remind these women that even on the hardest days, God’s love hasn’t left them—and it never will.
If you’ve ever wondered how to bring hope to someone who feels invisible, this is it. A simple food basket, given in love, can make HOPE loud to a widow in the darkest season of her life. (Make sure to watch the quick video below) Will you join us in being that voice of hope this Christmas? Let’s show these incredible women that they are not forgotten—that God sees them, and so do we.
In this Together,
Kimber Ryan
Founder + Director
Widows Food Blessing in Kibera Slum, Western Kenya, Maasailand, Tanzania.
