Savings will help boost donations to food banks

Dear Heloise: In this time of severe financial crisis, the importance of food banks has greatly increased, and they are receiving smaller donations. There are practices that can help solve this problem. For those who can afford to donate to the food bank, these cost-saving suggestions will provide you with more money or food to donate:

•Take sack lunches to work and eat out only occasionally.

•Buy food for the food bank every time you shop.

•Decrease meat consumption and get the nutrition you need from grains, beans and produce. Have at least one vegetarian meal a week.

•Find recipes to make your own specialty coffee, and buy a good thermos to put it in instead of spending money on servings from a coffee store.

•Serve on small plates rather than large plates and you’ll eat less.

•Most city water is fine. Use a home filtration system and buy a container that can be reused.

•Plan meals for a week and stick to your list.

•Set up community gardens and donate some food to your food bank if it can accept fresh food.

Christine N., Salem, Ore.

Christine, food banks do need donations now more than ever, so please, folks, if you can, give canned goods and staples. Heloise

Dear Heloise: I have very high beds that require one to climb steps in order to lie down. When my senior-citizen relatives come to visit, I am afraid they might slip off the steps. I use a step platform from my step-aerobics class. This gives my guests the height needed and a wider, more stable step upon which to climb into bed. L.M., via e-mail

Dear Heloise: I just read your column where it says to wash out containers (so there is nothing to attract animals — Heloise) and cut them up so animals won’t get caught in things like yogurt cups. I have camped for many of my 72 years and always went by the mottoes “if you packed it in, pack it out” and “leave the campsite cleaner than when you arrived.” This applies even when the campground has large trash containers and staff to “clean campsites.” Jim Berry, Thomaston, Conn.

Dear Heloise: Plastic hangers with metal clips (for hanging pants or skirts) are handy to hang rubber bath mats to dry. Even though they say “mildew-free,” after a period of time, moisture still causes mildew unless you frequently dry them. Let them air-dry by hanging them on a shower-head arm. Olivia, Princeton, W.Va.

Dear Heloise: When I have a lot of paper in my files that needs shredding, I place the shredder on top of a tall kitchen trash container with a plastic bag inside. It holds a lot more shredded paper than the small container that came with the shredder. Mary Ann Tidwell, Tuscumbia, Ala.

SBlt Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate