I love nothing more this time of year then really focusing on all the ways we can give back and pay it forward.
Many schools, churches, and towns hold food drives to support local food banks and pantries around the holidays. It's something Little Miss and I have always enjoyed giving to over the years, even in times we didn't have much to spare.
In the last couple years, we have also made it our goal to really focus on allergy free families in need. Think about it: A family in need. Their kids have food allergies - dairy, soy, eggs, or more. What options are available to them? Does that child go without? Or do they eat what's available and suffer because of it, perhaps more?
This year Little Miss and I donated the above pictured {allergy free} foods:
DeLallo Gluten Free Penne Pasta, Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oats, King Arthur Flour Flax Meal - Made in Top 8 Free Facility, Glutino Gluten Free Pretzels, Chebe Cheese Bread Mix, Gluten & Soy Free Miracle Noodles, Top 8 Free Enjoy Life Mini Chips, WowButter, SunButter, Enjoy Life Very Berry Bars, Sun Mills GF EF Cheesy Tuna Boxed Dinner, Arrowhead Mills Puffed Rice Cereal, Annie's Gluten Free Mac & Cheese, HomeFree Cookies, SunMills GF EF Beef Lasagna Boxed Dinner, Sam Mills GF DF EF Macaroni & Spaghetti Noodle Packages, Crunchmasters GF Crackers, Maple Grove Farms GF Pancake Mix, Almond Breeze DF Milk, So Delicious DF Coconut Milk, and Meijer Organic DF Soy Milk.
Our friends at King Arthur Flour were also kind enough to send us a box of their brownie, yellow cake, and muffin mix from their Gluten Free line of mixes - All made in a Top 8 Free facility. Thank you King Arthur Flour!
All together with our "regular" food items we also included with our donations, we have over 50 items to give!
I've said it before and I'll say it again.
We're by no means rich monetarily, but what I have and with what we've been through... I'm rich in many other ways. I remember what it's like to go without. I remember having to go without food so that I could provide for Little Miss. I will never, ever forget those times. They shaped me and my life. I will live the rest of my days sharing my many blessings and teaching my daughter to do the same.
This holiday season, remember to think outside yourself - give back any way you can to those in need. Maybe you've been there before, on the receiving end... or maybe one day in the future, you may find yourself on the receiving end. Remember this.
Also, think of those in need with allergies and donate allergy free foods to your local food banks.
Happy Holidays! XO
This is so amazing Keeley! I wish the world was filled with about 3 million more of you!
ReplyDeleteSo happy that KAF donated some items to go along with what you had too!!! What a blessing for whoever gets these donations! They will go to someone and/or families that need them. Food Pantries always are in need of items, but especially around the holidays and especially allergry friendly items! Beautiful post Keeley :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteLove this so much! <3 I volunteer at our local food pantry and we've been very fortunate in our area to get consistent donations from places like Whole Foods and Trader Joes so that we could set up an Allergy free area. Love seeing the kiddos with allergies get so excited over seeing it!
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ReplyDeleteBlessed indeed to be a blessing to others
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