Give the needy food they would actually like.

I like helping people who can’t help themselves. It makes me feel good inside knowing that I am making someone else’s life worthwhile.

Most of the government food programs (like food stamps) don’t cover things like cleaning supplies.

One of the cool programs that is run by the churchs of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark is the “care closet.” In addition to the food pantry programs, the care closet stocks items for caring for your body and home. Since only some churches are in “needy” areas, others like my serve as collection centers from where the items are then sent to other churches.

With food borne illnesses on the rise in the US, I like that we are thinking about other health related issues outside the pantry.

(I usually try to donate the grapefruit scented ones as I think they are a treat for the senses)

and pizzas are big favorites…

Kamp Katrina is getting dozens of chocolate chip cookies and fresh fruit from me these days. They’re tired of canned food, which is completely understandable.

Later this week I’m going to drop off a bag of clothes I don’t need anymore, partly to make room for new summer clothes and partly because I’m trying to accumulate as few things as possible. Do I really need that electric blue fleece pullover I haven’t worn in years, especially with warmer weather on the way? Probably not, and it would make me happy to come upon a street musician in the Quarter wearing it on one of the last chilly days of a New Orleans spring.

I don’t know if I will ever formally “complete” this goal or not.

But, I know in my heart that whenever I donate food now, at least I am doing my best to consider what they might like, and not just grab whatever I can find in the back of my pantry.

I “make groceries” (as we say in New Orleans) twice a month and I am going to start purchasing $10 worth of food to donate each time. This is just around the corner from where I live and houses homeless street performers, artists, writers, whoever needs a place to stay.

http://www.carnivalesquefilms.com/kamp_katrina.html

Emergency Communities closed yesterday, by the way.

I just need to find out where I can drop things off in my area.

I have done this and I encourage others to do so. So please during the upcoming giving season of food giving, give the foods you enjoy, and love.

Trying to think of non-perishables that people actually like, since I have weird taste. Any suggestions? What (healthy) foods would you want to get if someone were grocery shopping for you? (I’m pretty sure peanut butter is probably readily available, and plain pasta/top ramen/mac&cheese people probably already have in abundance, since they’re some of the more affordable food items!)

Please help me make my shopping list:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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etc.

_{Special note to Simon: Please refrain from the Pringles suggestion, unless you have found some high-fiber vitamin-enriched flavored Pringles.}

There are few grocery stores in my area, and I am sure that within a week or so there will be more, that reward customers with a free frozen turkey for making purchases.

My church collects these for distribution to one of the soup kitchens, and I am sure there are other organizations around the country that do similar things. Last year there was an abundance of turkey – much of it went into the church freezer and was used later for one our soup kitchen weekends. (we call it a soup kitchen, but most of the time we serve them plated dinners)

The stores are giving this stuff away so why not take advantage of it!