Spreading Joy This Holiday Season
Growing up I never worried about having food on the table, gifts for my birthday or Christmas, a warm coat to wear or a bed to sleep in. These were all a given. What I was not aware of was how challenging, at times, providing all of these comforts were for my parents. My Mom and Dad never let on when money was tight, or when they were worried about paying the bills. What I knew as a child was that love was ever present and our family was always together. These were the things that mattered.
When I try to recall the greatest Christmas gift I ever had, the first thing that comes to mind is sitting at my Grandma’s house right by her little Christmas tree that sparkled with tinsel. I can hear laughter ringing through the rooms. I can feel the warmth of the home enveloping me like the softest blanket in the world. As an adult, I know that the security and faith I had in those emotions was what made me thankful.
For years I lived in that warm bubble of security and love. I am grateful that my parents and family were able to shield me from the realities of worry and money struggles. There are some things that children should just not have to worry about, but the hard truth is that many families and children do worry. Many families, even right here in our local community, struggle. This time of year especially, disparities are clear. This is the reason that we have decided to partner with the Youth and Family Project this holiday season.
Typically I try to avoid any public commentary about things we do to help others. I was raised with the belief that you give without fanfare, you share without expectation and you love without consequence. This year though, we want to invite you to join us in helping families have a sense of peace, a little less worry about that holiday meal and to share in our bounty of food.
The current census data shows that 4.75% of all families in Washington County live at or below the poverty line. Youth and Family Project has developed a program called The Gingerbread House, with the goal of providing “adopted” families with special treats, fulfillment of basic needs and gifts for the holiday season. By no means are we rich in our wallets, but we do have food and that food belongs on the tables of our community. In partnering with this amazing organization and cause, our goal this year is to provide 2-3 holiday meals for 10 families. This is where you all come in, we need your help to reach that goal!
An example meal box will contain the following:
Breakfast: A box of pancake mix, a bottle of maple syrup from Tapped Maple Syrup (our favorite syrup company), a jar of jam, a package of bacon and a package of breakfast sausage, a box of butter and a tube of cinnamon rolls.
Lunch: A jar of spaghetti sauce, parmesan cheese, 3 pounds of ground beef and a box of pasta.
Dinner: A beef roast, a bag of potatoes, a bag of carrots, a package of Hidden Valley Ranch dry dressing, a stick of butter, a jar of pepperoncinis and a package of cookie dough. The box will include a recipe for Mississippi Roast, which is a favorite in our house and can be stretched to more than one meal (you can see the recipe in our Thanksgiving blog here).
What we are asking of our community is to join us in contributing what you can towards providing special holiday meals to families who need it most. We have donation options of $10, $25, $50 or $100. Whatever you can give will help us purchase the items that we cannot grow here on the farm, provide boxes for the perishable items and help offset the cost of the proteins that we are including in the boxes. If you are a small business and want to include something in the boxes, please reach out to me! Boxes will be delivered to families December 18-20th at the Gingerbread House HQ.
Circumstance, life events, age, health…None of these things should prevent people from having a full table, especially during the holiday season. Let’s work together to help create a sense of security and love for those who may struggle to find those feelings of comfort. In sharing kindness with others we are creating a better corner of the world. This is the season of open doors, bigger tables and compassion. This is the season in which my Grandma made sure that those she loved, those she knew and those she did not know - all felt a sense of joy. I cannot think of any better way to honor her memory and the love she had to give, than by helping others.
In Memory of Charlotte Mueller
January 5, 1921- December 22, 2013
“There should always be open doors, bigger tables and love in our hearts"
