Christmas Traditions

If you know me or have read much of my blog, you may know that I'm a bit of an organization freak...not that you would always know that with the state of my house!

One of my traditions each year at Christmas time is to take part in the Adopt-A-Family program at my preferred food pantry in the area.  This food pantry uses this to help provide food for some of their neediest clients for the week between Christmas and New Year's when their office is closed.  One of the things I like about their approach, compared to others, is that their focus is on the needs of the clients.  (They have a different program for gifts, etc.)

After participating for several years, I realized I was recreating a list each year on what I wanted to include for the family.  Therefore, in typical Mrs. Organization fashion, the following list was born.  This has become the nuts and bolts for keeping me focused while out shopping, which I start a few months before the mid-December deadline.  Because I never see a need to reinvent the wheel, I thought I'd share how I do it.

Since each family is different, I focus on what the family might use more from my outlined list.  For instance, the presence of children and their ages, as well as the number of people in the family, plays a part in some of the food choices and toiletry items.  However, I always try to include food items that can be made into a full meal (which you will see examples of towards the bottom of the list).  Obviously, the family may not like the ideas or may have other things in mind, but I include a recipe card for my taco soup recipe, along with one for chocolate chip cookies (and anything else I may add). All of the ingredients are versatile for whatever the family may want to make regardless.

Non-grocery items are almost as important, sometimes more so, since food stamps will not cover these things.  Picking up great deals at Walgreens or other stores really helps in this area.  The items on my list marked with an asterisk (*) always go in a basket; everything else depends on variables like the make-up of the family and, quite honestly, my budget for that year.

Including a small gift for each member of the family is a priority for me as well.  It may not be something much, but it is something that allows the recipient to know that they are cared for.  Examples of small gifts include a calendar, scarf/glove set, a nice box of chocolates, scented lotion and/or body wash, a blanket, and greeting cards and stamps.

The organization suggests giving a gift card (of any size you would like) to a grocery store so the family can pick up any perishable food items they might need.

A little planning goes a long way and makes it a bit easier to plan ahead and work within a budget, especially one that gets even tighter in the month of December.

Maybe this year you are thinking about ways you can give back.  This may be one idea, but there are so many others, which I will include in another post.

Be inspired.

ADOPT-A-FAMILY MASTER LIST

Non-Grocery: Household
[] aluminum foil                                           [] tissues
[] baggies                                                   [] sponges
[] dish soap *                                             [] cleaners: kitchen, bathroom, toilet
[] laundry detergent *                                 [] toilet paper *
[] dryer sheets *                                         [] paper towels *
[] plastic wrap

Non-Grocery: Toiletries
[] shampoo *                                             [] conditioner *
[] hand soap *                                           [] lotion
[] body wash *                                          [] diapers
[] deodorant *                                           [] toothbrushes
[] toothpaste *                                           [] razors
[] shave gel

Food: Baking Items:  (Chocolate Chip Cookies)
[] flour *                                                    [] sugar *
[] brown sugar *                                        [] oil *
[] baking soda/powder *                            [] salt
[] chocolate chips *

Food: Pasta/Rice/Grains
[] pasta                                                      [] rice

Food: Breakfast               

[] cereal                                                     [] oatmeal

[] granola bars                                           [] pancake mix/syrup

[] canned fruit

Food: Cans & Jars
[] beans                                                     [] canned vegetables, various
[] jelly                                                        [] peanut butter
[] ketchup                                                  [] tomato sauce
[] tomato paste                                          [] tuna
[] chicken                                                  [] pasta sauce

[] soup

Food: Sauces
[] mayo                                                     [] dressing

Food: Snacks
[] graham crackers                                    [] nuts
[] popcorn                                                [] chips/pretzels

Food: Drinks
[] juice                                                      [] coffee
[] tea                                                        [] Crystal Light

Food: Meal Kits

[] Ingredients for Taco Soup:
     [] 28 oz can crushed tomatoes              [] black beans
     [] red kidney beans                               [] corn
     [] dry Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix
     [] taco seasoning                                   [] tortilla chips
[] Ingredients for spaghetti
     [] a good pasta sauce                             [] Parmesan cheese
     [] canned veggie                                     [] pasta

     [] quick bread mix
[] Pizza Kit

     [] Chef Boyardee Kit                             [] pepperoni

[] Burrito Bowls

     [] rice                                                    [] beans

     [] salsa                                                  [] jar of guacamole and/or cheese sauce

     [] tortilla shells                                       [] taco seasoning