food pantries (Portland, Washington: house, high school, live)

[msina]

I did some work for a local food pantry today. There is little money and many desperate people. As we all wonder about what to get for Christmas gifts, and what to make for Thanksgiving, we should also try to remember those in need. If you can, donate a few bucks to your local pantry. It helps tham to stock more for people and helps with the gas for those that do all the running to pick things up. Another nice idea is to ask if they have families in need of warm clothing and donate any old winter coats in good shape.

[Bewitched]

Great post, msina!!
(tried to rep you, but it said I had to spread the love a bit more..lol)

I usually "adopt a family" for the holidays every year, but I haven't seen any information on doing so in this area....so that might be the best thing for me to do, to give the money I would have spent on clothing and toys for a family to the local food shelter!

On kind of the same note, I also used to visit my local nursing home around the holidays, and would ask if there were those that didn't have any family contact. Sometimes just having someone to talk to or bring you cookies and sit and watch a movie with you, to just spend time with you....can be the best gift of all.

[CapeCodder]

Originally Posted by Bewitched

Great post, msina!!
(tried to rep you, but it said I had to spread the love a bit more..lol)

I usually "adopt a family" for the holidays every year, but I haven't seen any information on doing so in this area....so that might be the best thing for me to do, to give the money I would have spent on clothing and toys for a family to the local food shelter!

On kind of the same note, I also used to visit my local nursing home around the holidays, and would ask if there were those that didn't have any family contact. Sometimes just having someone to talk to or bring you cookies and sit and watch a movie with you, to just spend time with you....can be the best gift of all.

Central Maine Toyota adopts many families every Christmas...the employees donate weekly from their paychecks just for this. This year we're shopping for five kids. The items they asked for are so practical. Coats, mittens, undies...along with a few toys.
I can't wait to shop for them. I've suggested to my family that instead of exchanging presents THIS is what we should do. Volunteer...contribute...make a kid's Christmas...lighten a mom's worries. Bake cookies and bring them to a nursing home. Anything really. I get as much out of it as they do.
Wonderful thread!

[moughie]

Such good souls here posting on this thread...... Nice to know there are plenty of decent, caring folks out there!

I am proud to be cyber-acquainted with all of you

[399083453]

Thanks for reminding me. I'm going to go drop off a box at my local food pantry on Fri.

[WhoFanMe]

My company operates Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization that most of us contribute a piece of our commissions towards. My local Portland office also collects money all year by "fining" us $5 for being late to meetings or if our wireless phones go off during a meeting. We also auction the parking space near the door each month and host an annual golf tournament and have raffles all year to go towards two Christmas families in the area. It does feel good to give back!

[Maine Writer]

Our farm fairy makes food and gifts mysteriously appear in certain places around holidays.

[mollysmiles]

we do the turkey donations every year....this year I think they got over 900....not bad for one little part of Washington County

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I substitute taught in a school a few weeks before Christmas one year. The regular teacher's lesson plan called for the kids to write down what they wanted most for Christmas. Those kids were different fifth graders. They wrote;

I hope my friend's house is warm on Christmas.
I wish my Dad will visit on Christmas.
I wish my Mom's boyfriend won't be mean on Christmas.
I pray Susan's Mom will live until Christmas.

None of those kids wished for anything for themselves. Life is hard for some of the people here. They work hard. Most are honest as the day is long. There is hard poverty in our beautiful state. Many of those folks will not ask for help. I had a neighbor who lived on a very small social security check. He grew his own vegetables, fished in the lake and hunted. He cut his firewood and kept his house neat. I brought him venison and salmon. He would never take anything else, but at Christmas he did take a set of drug store reading glasses. He could have applied for assistance, but he would not give up his home and land. He was 88 years old.

[Eastport4me]

Originally Posted by mollysmiles

we do the turkey donations every year....this year I think they got over 900....not bad for one little part of Washington County

My husband and I work at our county country high school where the lower to middle socio-economic students attend. The students put up posters in the halls asking for canned goods donations starting the first of November. The teachers donate money for the turkeys and Thanksgiving baskets are distributed to the needed. Last year about 30 or more families received a basket. Then the National Honor Society(my husband is the sponsor) students bring gifts and clothes for families whose names, ages and sizes are provided by local churches. We have had the back of my husband's truck loaded with Christmas for the families. I have been surprised by the generosity of the students. Then we have the giving tree at church for needy children and their families at Thanksgiving and the Angel tree at Christmas. This is just from our small corner of the world.