Remember our food pantries: Donate or become a volunteer

heloise

Remember food pantries: Donate or volunteer

Dear Heloise: I enjoyed the letter you received and your response regarding food pantries’ needs. Several women and I run a food-pantry ministry in our area.

There are many needs, including things people don’t think of. We recycle used paper and plastic bags for the food to be carried home in. We also use quart- and gallon-size plastic bags and deli containers. We have a lady who makes homemade soup, chili, etc. It’s easier and cheaper to reuse these containers than to buy new ones.

One very important need every month is volunteers. Most food banks and food pantries run on volunteers. A lot of time is given to sorting, packing, setting up and distributing the food. Some of our families are homebound, so there is a need for someone to deliver their food. I really would like to encourage your readers to call their local food pantry and see how they can help. Everything we receive and everyone who helps is and always will be appreciated. L. Sue Race, Mohnton, Pa.

Sue, thank you for sharing these good hints, and thanks to all of you who help make food banks possible. Volunteers are vital to food banks and so many charity organizations. Every city, town or community has an organization that helps out. Readers, take some time to call and see what you can offer them. Heloise

Dear Heloise: Here are three of my favorite hints:

• I receive flowers several times a year, and the giver always wants to know what they look like and if they are what he or she really ordered. I’ve started sending a picture of the arrangement with my thank-you note, either by mail or e-mail. It seems to solve those problems, and lets them know how beautiful the flowers really were.

• After falling and hurting my shoulder, I find I can’t sleep with a regular pillow. A neck pillow — one shaped like a horseshoe — really works great. However, I got tired of taking the pillow out to wash it and then having to restuff it. So, I found a pair of soft cotton shortie pajama bottoms with a drawstring top. I just slip the pillow into it, tie the top, tuck in the strings, pin the legs shut and throw into the wash.

• When I was making a sauce, I couldn’t find my whisk quickly and grabbed a beater from my mixer. It works as great as any whisk. De Powers, Omaha, Neb.

Dear Heloise: After hand surgery, I discovered I could open those bags at the grocery store by “scrubbing” them back and forth with the heels of my hands. This also quickly lets me know if I was trying to open the wrong end. Loretta S., Carlsbad, Texas

Dear Heloise: The heavy glass lids from the candle jars make great paperweights. Betty, Sheridan, Texas

• 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