I have been (reluctantly) talking about giving to food pantries each quarter for the last year. And I fulfilled my quarterly visit to the food pantry earlier this week.
Reluctantly, because one shouldn't normally call attention to generosity, but as regular readers know, I'm trying to increase awareness.
Traditionally, people give at holiday time, but people are hungry year round.
If you think you have to do a whole lot to make this sacrifice, I will break down how simple this last trip was for me.
I went to the grocery store across the street from the food pantry. I didn't even make a list. I was shopping for myself as well as the food pantry so no extra time was spent.
My total, including tax, was $8.32, so there wasn't a huge financial expenditure. Virtually everything I got was on sale.
Here is what I bought:
- 1 10.5 oz. can Cream of Chicken soup
- 1 15 oz. jar of national brand chunky peanut butter
- 2 12 oz. boxes of three-color whole-grain rotini pasta
- 1 13.25 oz. box of whole grain spaghetti
- 1 national brand can of beefaroni
- 1 national brand can of spaghetti and meatballs
Not a lot. If I had a job, and more money, I would make a more complicated list and spend a lot more. But I wanted one of these runs to be as simple and straight-forward as possible.
Dry goods work for food pantries. Canned vegetables could have worked, too. I mixed it up for a little variety, and threw in some whole grain products as well.
And if you think this wasn't enough, if everyone who could give gave that little, boy what a difference this would make in the lives of those who really need help.
I came across to your page and I'm enjoy reading your blogs. Glad to know that many organization like you willing to help for people in need. Keep up the great work!
Posted by: automo dona | February 28, 2011 at 06:35 PM