Food pantries in our area are in need of donations. I recently put together an e-mail, encouraging my farmgirl friends to donate this season.
The sad part is, that most of America today, is suffering with their own income. Most people are already barely making ends meet with raising kids, school costs, let alone put food on the table (healthy food at that).
I was able to collect $25.00 from all the letters (and phone calls) I mailed out, and it came from a food manufacturer in Michigan. Then I remembered that my husband's employer will donate $300.00 to a charity of our request, however we needed the correct information in a short amount of time. With luck, we were able to have his employer donate $300.00 in his behalf, to an are food bank.
I also offered to write up a flyer to present recipes for homemade detergent, which is another item visitors of the food pantry need. I was told that people would not pick it up nor be interested in it.
I am actually considering holding free classes (or by donation) to any family in a financial bind, on how to make healthy meals on a budget (dried beans, fresh veggies and fruits included), and how to make homemade cleaners. I think people just get absorbed into the convenience of quick and easy, and think "homemade" is too time consuming. I think people might even be a little scared to try homemade anything, when they are desperately trying to feed themselves, and their families.
Tidbit: A recent newspaper article stated that food pantries, in our state, are being used more often, than when they were throughout the recession.
Comments
Funny, you mentioned HOMEMADE CLEANERS...couple of things.
I'll be teaching 2 young moms this week how to make the liquid form of laundry soap. I've taught women before at our church...most still use it.
The other thing is, when you make your soap, you could bottle up a handful of samples to give those who may be leary of it and don't want the expense..."in case they don't like it".
I agree with what you said about convenience...and you put it very kindly. I would have been more apt to say--convenience makes people lazy! Poor little Americans. :)
Pat
It's sad that there are food pantries that will not accept things like your homemade laundry detergent. I'm not sure if it's just the pantry's decision of if people who go in there just don't know or don't "like" homemade stuff. The term Beggers can't be choosers no longer apply I suppose.
I've also often thought about giving classes at the house for homemade cooking, gardening, small livestock, wild edibles, etc.. But not only will DH have a fit if I invited a bunch of strangers to the homestead (not that I blame him for his worry), but we've been having quite the uptick in crimes here and I wouldn't want to put my family in any danger. That's just too bad, and it saddens me that we can't safely share our information with others without being afraid for our safety.
My experience is that they are not interested...just give them the food, money, energy assistance, etc. Anyway, that is my experience of 25 years. Sorry.
One time they had chicken thighs available but no one would take them because the bone was in. Sigh.