Barefeet In The Kitchen will be donating $1 to Feeding America for every comment that is made on this blog post. In addition to that, on December 30th, we will be matching all donations that have been made to Feeding America through the link below, up to $2500.
If you’ve known me for long, you may recall that over the past few years, we’ve talked a lot about different ways to feed the hungry. Having grown up without an overabundance of food in the house, having a pantry full of groceries and a fridge full of fresh ingredients is something that I will never take for granted. I remember watching my mother cry over a gift of groceries and I remember countless meals of beans and rice. Though I grew up without an abundance of material things, I was richly blessed and I never went to bed hungry.
One of my favorite Christmas stories is from my mom. If you are fortunate enough to know her, you know what it’s like to see Christ’s love in action. Her perspective on everything is a reminder that we are truly blessed in the big and the little things. My mother would give you the shoes off her feet if you needed them. She recently shared this Christmas memory from years ago and I’m sharing it here with her permission:
“Our church was collecting canned goods in a box for a “poor family”. Every week I looked to see if anyone had put in a can of cranberry sauce. You see, the Lord had been nudging me to share my can of cranberry sauce. Big deal, you say? It was a very big deal because money was so tight that if I took my cranberry sauce to the church I would not be able to buy any more. Finally, I obeyed that gentle nudging on the last Sunday before Christmas. We still had cranberry sauce for Christmas because on the day before Christmas they delivered the whole box to us! I think God must have chuckled over my foolishness.”
Whether it’s sack lunches for the homeless, or donations in the grocery store, food drives, or wherever you find a need locally and try to help, there is no wrong way to help.
Once again, as the end of the year approaches, I’d love to get as much food as possible into the homes of those who need it. Every dollar you give through our Virtual Food Drive helps provide 11 meals for people in need. We can work together to make a HUGE impact in many lives this holiday season.
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, they provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America.
Earlier this year, I flew to Ohio for a visit to a dairy farm with American Dairy Association Mideast. We toured the farm, oohed and aahed over the newborn calves, and I was even lucky enough to be there in time to feed one myself.
While in Ohio, I learned about The Great American Milk Drive. Milk is a nutrient powerhouse with 8 grams of natural, high-quality protein and eight other essential nutrients in every 8-ounce glass. Nutritionists recommend that each person drink three servings of milk per day. But on average, Feeding America food banks only have enough supply to provide one gallon of milk…per person…per year.
Fresh milk is one of the items people request the most and it’s also one of the least donated items. Through Milk Life and Feeding America you can donate funds directly towards milk that will be provided at the local food banks.
I researched a great many charities before deciding to support Feeding America. Feeding America spends 94.13% of their budget directly on food distribution endeavors. You can examine their ranking among other charities here.
Please consider joining Barefeet In The Kitchen and helping feed the hungry this holiday season.
Donate to Feeding America HERE
Leave a comment sharing your favorite Christmas memory. (Reading your stories is one of my favorite things to do each Christmas!) Barefeet In The Kitchen will donate $1 for each comment on this blog post and we will also be matching all donations made to Feeding America up to $2500.
Patty says
I too remember waiting in line with my mom for a full box of food during the holidays. I never take it for granted and try to help those I can with food or clothes
Molly Hoover says
I have so many great holiday memories, all of which include spending it with my Dad and Aunt in the kitchen. What you are doing is just incredible. Restoring faith in humanity.
Joy says
We depended on commodities from the government when I was young. The rich landlord would (generously) donate a chicken (family of 6). Our CHRISTmas tree was a large, medium and a small tumbleweed with the construction paper ringers we made in school for decorations. And yet my mother was somehow able to make it stretch to not only feed us but 2 unfortunate individuals. After which she managed to boil the carcass to make us soup. This continued until My sister and I were put into foster care. My husband and I have always given back. I encourage everyone to share by donating. It makes a incredible difference for those in need.
Alanna says
Thanks for these great ideas! And thanks for using your blog to help others AND for sharing your awesome recipes with us all the time!!!
Bea Rivera says
God. Bless you!
Stephen w Schemel says
Please give
Renee M. says
this is awesome!
Jo Ann says
Christmas is so much more than material gifts. Gifts from the heart and soul are much more meaningful. Thank you for feeding America! Everyone can do something!
Dorothy Moye says
Please continue your efforts to feed the hungry <3
Laura says
💜💜💜
Sarah says
One of my favorite Christmas’s was when I got my little dachshund puppy at age 6. She was in a giant box when I walked into the living room, and the box was bouncing all over the place! I knew in a second my wish had come true! Holly was our family member until I was 19. She was a wonderful little girl❤
Michelle says
Love your blog. Thanks for doing what you can to make a difference.
Theresa Diulus says
My favorite Christmas memory as a kid is the last Christmas both of my grandparents were alive and we were at their house. I can remember the layout of the house, where gifts were hidden :), waking up Christmas morning and seeing even more gifts under the tree along with candy kisses hanging on the tree (pure delight to my way of thinking!) it’s been more than 40 years since that time and I can still feel the memory so vividly.
Maggie Yoder says
I love this blog and use your recipes all the time.. Feeding America is such an appropriate choice for a charity from here. Thanks for suggesting it! Merry Christmas!
Emily says
Thank you . Always love your posts.
Michelle says
Good Morning and Merry Christmas.I Thank you for doing a wonderful job. in feeding the neady.We had soup and sandwich and gave out non personable food at our church. Please keep up the great work.
Sharon Carson says
Mary, this is such a wonderful idea! Thank you for reminding us of just how blessed we are! My favorite Christmas memory was when I was a new Girl Scout back in the late ’70’s, and my troop decided to fill Christmas stockings for those in need in the community. The stockings included soap, shampoo, lotion, toothbrush/toothpaste, pens, mini-notebooks, and any other trinkets the girls wished to ad-lib with. I added some colorful barley-sugar wrapped hard candies, and developed a fondness for those treats myself, in the process! I had such a blast shopping at a little five-and-dime store in my town, and filling those stockings. My little 8-year-old mind was totally blown when the cashier opted not to charge me tax on the items once she learned what my troop was doing with them. I was like, “Whoa! No tax!”. Such a little thing, but to my young mind, it was a big deal, because this shopkeeper was helping out my troop i our endeavor. Thank you for the opportunity to get involved in something so necessary, and for giving me the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus! Merry Christmas to you and your family !
Diane Harrish says
Bless you Mary, hope you have a Blessed Christmas and the Happiest New Year. Thank you for this wonderful site, and for helping the families in need, If everyone that can help does, we could stop hunger.
Debbie R. says
My very favorite Christmas memory was waiting for my husband to get home from bootcamp. We were only married less than one month when he had to leave to join either the Army or Navy. This was 1971 and his draft number was 6 so we decided together that he would join the Navy because of having a better chance of returning since he wouldn’t be in the jungles of Vietnam.
I remember sitting next to the Christmas tree and watching out the window, with great anticipation, for him to be dropped off from the airport. This would be the first time that I would see him for about two months and I was overcome with emotion when that car pulled up and I watched him come to the front door. He had lost about 40 pounds and was the most handsome man I had ever seen. Needless to say, that Christmas was my favorite of my 63 years. ❤️
Hana says
Thank you for helping give milk to those in need this holiday season through the Great American Milk Drive, Mary! Great cause that truly will help those who need it most. We loved having you in Ohio- thank you for taking the time to come.