If this is your first time visiting Barefeet In The Kitchen, you might be impressed with pretty pictures of delicious sounding recipes. These are not the recipes I remember from my childhood.
As I was growing up, my family was often blessed by food gifts from charity. I hardly knew the difference between a food pantry and the grocery store.
I simply knew that food was coming into the house and that made everyone happy.
I remember watching my mother cry over a gift of groceries. I recall being speechless with joy over a huge bag of day-old doughnuts, because I couldn’t recall having a doughnut before that day.
The doughnuts were part of a food box that my mother stood in line for every Tuesday afternoon. She would bring them home and sort them. She set aside the doughnuts that were still whole on a plate to be a special dessert that night.
The doughnuts that were smashed were chopped up and allowed to dry out overnight. The next day she made them into “doughnut pudding,” a simple bread pudding without added sugar.
I learned a lot from countless meals of plain beans and rice. I learned to be grateful for every single thing in my life. Though I grew up poor, I was richly blessed and I never went to bed hungry.
There may never be anything more beautiful to me than a full pantry. The monotony of grocery shopping as an adult is countered by the overwhelming gratitude that I am able to go to the store and purchase what we need every week.
I don’t take for granted the fact that we don’t have to weigh the cost of new shoes against whether or not we’ll be able to purchase our food.
Every dollar you give through our Virtual Food Drive helps provides EIGHT meals for people in need. We can work together to make a HUGE impact in many lives this holiday season!
Feeding America is the leading domestic hunger-relief organization, with over 200 food banks serving every state. Those food banks provide food and groceries to 33,500 food pantries, 4,500 soup kitchen, and 3,600 emergency shelters.
Follow this link to Barefeet In The Kitchen’s Virtual Food Drive. It only takes a moment to donate and you really can make a difference!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for your gift to help feed the hungry this holiday season!
I researched a great many charities before deciding to work with Feeding America. Feeding America spends 97.9% of their budget directly on food distribution endeavors. You can examine their ranking among other charities here.
Through Feeding America we can accomplish the most with even the smallest of gifts. Even if you only have a dollar to give, you can make a difference through our Virtual Food Drive!
Anonymous says
God bless you and everyone who cares.
Margaret Norman says
What an awesome thing to do!!! Hope to be able to do something similar soon!!!!!!!!! (y)
Anonymous says
Awsome thing to do. let's make everybody's holiday a happy one.
Anonymous says
Thanks for sharing! Very touching and insightful
Anonymous says
This is such a cool thing ur doing. Good bless u
Laurie Reed says
God bless you, if it weren't for food pantries our family would have gone hungry many a night when I was growing up.
Anonymous says
Love you recipes and the way you are giving back.
Candace Corner says
God bless you and your family for helping others in their time of need.
Anonymous says
I wish I could donate myself, but I will just have to settle for a comment. Thanks for this.
Anonymous says
God Bless you! When my boys were younger, we hit some hard times, and had to rely on the gifts of others from the Food Pantry at times, and having an entire Thanksgiving meal donated one year was such a blessing! I try to give whatever I can now, pay it forward if you will…..
Bonnie Stocker says
Have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday!
Anonymous says
Thanks!
Bonnie Stocker says
Have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday!
Anonymous says
Thank you!
Anonymous says
Thank you
Anonymous says
Thank you for the wonderful story. We need to remember those less fortunate than us all year long. Thank you for donating. God Bless
Anonymous says
Have a wonderful Thankgiving filled with many blessings!
Anonymous says
I've heard such good things about Feeding America, I am donating. Thank you for your contribution!
karen marie says
Best wishes to you and yours. Thank you for sharing recipes and spreading such joy. You are inspiring.
Leslie Heavingham says
~ Bless you <3