I signed up today to volunteer at the Cambridge Food Pantry. I’ll start next Thursday morning to help with the backpack project, which sends healthy snacks and food to 66 children at the local central school who need food support.
The backpacks are distributed discreetly, with numbers, not names, so that the children won’t be embarrassed or self-conscious. The backpacks also take account of the children’s allergies, food issues, and other needs (gluten, etc.). I’m happy to help with that weekly.
(The pantry requests baked beans and Orville Redenbacher’s Movie Theater Butter Microwave Popcorn, Classic Bag, 24-count.)
I can’t imagine many more satisfying things than getting microwave popcorn to kids in food-deprived families. I just ordered two microwave popcorn orders.
I also just saw the now daily updated Amazon wish list. These foods are not available to the pantry for various reasons. You can view it here and donate anytime if you like. It’s similar to the existing one with a few new additions, like popcorn and mayonnaise.)
I’m volunteering for a couple of reasons. Food deprivation is growing steadily in America. The food pantries are overwhelmed and struggling.
It’s a beautiful cause that helps people directly, and the Army of Good’s response has been strong and steady. (Below is the first of two deliveries the pantry receives from the Army of Good each day. The following delivery today is arriving this afternoon.)
If the blog readers are this enthusiastic – I am proud to see this – the least I can do is some hands-on volunteer.
And like my work at the Mansion, I will pay attention and be able to write about food deprivation with a more informed perspective. This cause touches my heart, and I see it also touches yours.
This is more meaningful than discussing my cat with strangers on social media. I’m slow, but I do learn.
This is the first food delivery from the Army of Goods to the Cambridge Food Pantry; there have been two deliveries a day for most of the week.
I’m excited about this new and renewed chapter in my work. I so appreciate your help and support, and more importantly, so do the grateful but often embarrassed families who come here to feed their families and children.
Thanks again; you are the saints of my digital world.
Good for you! I can’t believe how many kids are dependent on receiving even breakfast at school. There is a real need for food pantries.
I’m excited about, thanks WJ
Microwave popcorn is pure chemicals and additives—it takes a healthy food and makes it extraordinarily unhealthy. It also is much more expensive than just buying a container of unpopped corn and popping it yourself. I’m very disappointed to hear that this food pantry encourages people to purchase and consume something like this. Chef Boy-R-Dee is bad enough, but there’s nothing good to be said about microwave popcorn, even the cost.
Ellen, if you can send them popcorn that is healthy and approved by local state and federal agricultural officials. I’m sure they’d be happy to accept it and offer it. I don’t tell food deprived people what they should accept or eat and I don’t tell food pantries what they need to receive to meet the approval of nutritionists and fortunate, wealthier people. If you have the money to send the legally mandated packaged popcorn that you decide is healthy, please send it.
These people don’t have the choice of food that you seem to have, and neither do food pantries. They have to accept what groceries and some corporations give them or let people go hungry and not have enough food.
Please don’t make them feel like lousy parents for being broke.
This popcorn is what the children love and want and ask for and what is fast and easy for their parents. This is what I am sending them and hope others do as well.
I purchase the healthiest, popcorn from farmers, and it is cheaper, but not cheap. If these people could afford it, they wouldn’t need a food pantry.
Your message should go to Congress or the FDA asking for enough money for everyone to have healthy foods that can also be purchased and transmitted to food pantries.
They have to take what they can take so that people can eat and feed their children and they work day and night to get the best food they can and they do very well I believe, with very few resources.
You’re scolding the wrong people.
You hit the nail on the head with your reply. Those in need of food support should not be made to feel bad about their choices. How many that have the resources to choose more healthy food do so all the time?! Not me😝even though I may “know better “.
Thanks, Chris; I couldn’t agree more, and thank you for your message. The job is to get the families the food they want and need, not to nit-pick about it. We would all love to have healthier food; some can afford it, some can’t. I hope it changes one day. The grocery stores and food makers have their arrangements about what to do with items that don’t sell. Some re-sell them, some ship them overseas. The pantries don’t get to choose; they accept what they can get, which is very healthy. Im excited about starting my volunteering this Thursday. Stay in touch.
I sent a bunch of bottles of vanilla to the Cambridge Food Pantry, since I couldn’t donate any of my homemade vanilla.
Thank Holly
Ellen Waverley: Instead of criticizing why don’t you send the popcorn you “think” is more suitable? Do you or any of those “nitpicking” people have any idea what it’s like to go hungry? Take your fingers off the keyboard, go shopping and send to those who need it. I love reading all those wonderful blogs that you get Jon, but am really fed up with those who must have extremely boring and unhappy lives causing them to be so damn rude, nasty and hurtful. From “Down Under”.
Thanks Sandra you get it, it’s just part of life. I’m happy for the chance to embrace reality.