HELOISE: Birthday party raises food for local pantry

Dear Heloise: When I turned 40, I threw myself a birthday party at home. On the invitation, I noted that I was trying to raise 40 pounds of food to donate to a local food pantry (in lieu of presents I didn’t need).

After a great bash with friends and family, I took 100 pounds of nonperishable food items to a local pantry. Next time I have any kind of party, I plan to do the same, although I will increase the goal. I challenge any of your readers who like to entertain to do the same. It shows how one person can make a difference, and gives you a great feeling inside. Kathy, Cypress, Texas

What a clever and worthy idea this is! Not only have you enjoyed a party, but others less fortunate will gain from it. Thanks for sharing. Heloise

Fast Facts

Dear Readers: Turkey basters are great little inventions. I’ve come across many hints and alternative uses for them through the years, and here are some of the best:

•Fill with cake batter and squeeze the exact amount needed into cupcake tins, with no mess!

•Use to suck up grease from the pan when frying meat. Be careful not to touch the pan with the baster, because it might melt.

•Use in place of a candle snuffer to put out the flame of household candles without splattering wax everywhere.

•Use to refill an iron.

•If you overwater your houseplants, use to suck up the excess water. Heloise

Dear Heloise: In these “down market” times, I’ve found a way to stretch my perfumed body lotion. I mix the perfumed body lotion with my favorite store-brand unscented body lotion. The smell is not as strong as the perfumed one, but it works great for everyday use! Carla, via e-mail.

Carla, this is a terrific hint. Along those same lines, if you have a fragrance that you don’t wear anymore and unscented body lotion, mix the two for a new lotion. Heloise

Dear Heloise: Pen and pencil drawers easily can become disorganized messes. I reuse two boxes of processed shelf-stable cheese (when I’ve eaten all the cheese) to keep the drawers orderly. One is for pencils, and the other for pens. Ruth from Texas

Sound Off

Dear Heloise: My gripe is a problem with all of today’s sewing machines. Formerly, the machine needle was threaded from the side — a simple procedure that worked for years. Now, the needle is threaded from the front. Of course, the thread goes right into the shaft that controls the presser foot. You can catch the thread with tweezers, hopefully, and pull it through. Who in the world would consider this an improvement?

A change of a good system in the name of progress to a bad system that makes it difficult to do the required task is, in my opinion, just plain stupid. Thank you. A Reader, San Antonio

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