Reaping the Fall Harvest
Grab a little extra for a friend you haven’t met. By Jocelyn Stott.
It’s the time of year when people start thinking about chili and cornbread, homemade apple pie, turkey and all the trimmings, caramel apples, popcorn balls, and of course pumpkin spice flavored EVERYTHING.
As you stock your cupboards and even your freezer this fall, consider getting extra food for those less fortunate. When every day food acquisition and consumption is a challenge – both in quantity and quality – it’s hard to even consider preparing the seasonal treats that so many of us take for granted this time of year.
It is often the case that those who need food really need something nourishing, which can also be more expensive. When considering what to donate to your local food bank, consider things that are filling, healthy, and easy to prepare.
One thing that some folks overlook is the donation of deer, elk, or moose venison from local hunters. Another type of donation to consider is the surplus of produce from your own garden or fruit trees, such as tomatoes, zucchini, apples, and plums.
In addition to donating food that is nutritious, consider some of the other challenges faced by low- income residents in our community. Packaged meals can be nice, but is there water, a pan, and the proper utensils with which to cook?
While canned food comes already prepared, surprisingly, many food banks give out a lot of can openers since some do not own them. The next time you are at the store, consider adding a few inexpensive manual can openers and pans to supplement your holiday food bank donation.
Though reliance on welfare subsidies has dropped in Washington State, the need for food stamps is on the rise (Seattle Times, 12/4/13). The group that is most affected by food insecurity is children. Though many children in this situation are eligible for reduced fee or no fee breakfasts and lunches at school, many of them return home to an empty dinner table. This is a disheartening situation for anyone to face. But for children, food insecurity can lead to both health and growth issues.
Sometimes it can be hard to imagine what life would look like if you didn’t know where your next meal would come from. It can be easy to take little things like can openers and a saucepan for granted. Now is the time, more than ever, to live your life according to the Golden Rule. So, when you consider your local food bank this fall, don’t just clean the cupboards of your leftover canned beets - count your blessings and be a blessing to others this fall and beyond.
