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Decluttering and Helping Out
If you followed yesterday’s suggestion for Something Good, then you may have ended up digging through your cupboards for treats to put in your lunch. We’re going to build on that today in order to reduce a little of the clutter in our lives while making a difference in someone else’s.
My darling partner Rob and I bought our first house this spring. It was a very fulfilling experience, and we’re so happy to be putting a little money into equity rather than our landlady’s pocket. She was a really nice lady, but I don’t figure I need to finance her retirement, right?
Moving has its pros and cons, but one of the biggest cons is packing and hauling all of that STUFF. I was a little alarmed to notice how many boxes of food we moved from one house to the other. Rob does a lot of the grocery shopping around here, and he is a bit of a sucker (she says with fondness) for sales. For some reason, he forgets that you still get the sale price when you buy one item, even if the sign says you can buy up to eight. For that reason, we have numerous boxes of instant mashed potatoes, a plethora of canned vegetables, and more cream of chicken soup than you can shake a stick at.
I imagine that we will eventually eat up all of the food, but the fact of the matter is that my pantry is so crowded that it’s a little frustrating to root around in there. It seems a waste for me to be annoyed by having too much of something that other people so desperately need. So, I’m going to do Something Good for myself and the less fortunate folks in my neighborhood by donating some items.
Originally, I thought I’d take it down to the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Inland Northwest, but then I got realistic. That’s all the way across town, and I’d probably end up putting the bag in the car and leaving it there for goodness-knows how long. I’ve heard about a church in the neighborhood that does some outreach stuff and discovered that it is one block from my house! So, I’m going to reuse one of those stashed-away plastic grocery bags and take a small donation over to the Westminster Presbyterian Church.
How cool that we can do Something Good for ourselves and someone else at the same time. Purging clutter always makes me feel better, and I love the idea that some family will have a little extra something on the table because of it. If you live near your local food bank, consider taking a quick trip up there with a few gifts in tow. Really, how long has that can of water chestnuts been in the cupboard? Are you ever going to eat that off-brand of peanut butter than your mother-in-law bought? If not, do a Google search for your neighborhood and the words “food pantry.” You’re likely to find a place within a few minutes’ drive that would be more than happy to take that stuff off your hands.
Anything that you can donate will be Something Good for those who receive it, but there are particular items that are most needed. Protein, for example, is hard to come by when you don’t understand a healthy vegetarian diet and you can’t afford meat. It’s also helpful to include foods that kids are likely to appreciate like cereals and pastas. Here is our local food bank’s wish list to give you some ideas:
MOST NEEDED FOOD ITEMS
(listed in order of need)
Protein
Peanut butter
Canned meat, ham, chicken, tuna
Hearty soups, chili, stews
Macaroni & cheese, boxed dinners
Beans (kidney, pinto, navy, black, refried, etc.)
Fruits and Vegetables
Canned fruits & vegetables
100% canned or boxed juices
Boxed mashed potatoes
Dried fruit
Grains
Pasta
Rice
Healthy cereals (low sugar & fat)
Flour, baking mixes
Stuffing mixes
Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat
Whatever you have to donate is a wonderful gift. Give that gift to your neighbors who need it while giving yourself the gift of a clutter-free pantry. Oh, and don’t forget that you can donate food without even leaving the computer by clicking to donate at The Hunger Site.
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