HELOISE: Reader’s birthday helped food bank

Dear Heloise: I recently had my retirement and 80th birthday celebration. I suggested in the invitation that my guests may bring a food item for donation in lieu of a gift for me. I got this idea from a previous hint in your column I read in the San Angelo (Texas) Standard-Times. I was hoping to raise 80 pounds of food, because I was turning 80. I actually received 291 pounds of food items. What a great idea, and what a great feeling!

Jeanne Johnson in Texas

Jeanne, a happy belated birthday, and a special thanks for being so thoughtful! If only one in 10 people did this, the food banks would be stocked all the time!

Folks, please give this heart hint consideration, and if you do have a “food bank party,” first check to see what items local food banks need.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: With sanitary concerns due to the mandatory removal of shoes to pass through most airport security checkpoints, I’ve found a thin, low-cut sock works perfectly in a pinch over my family’s regular stockings or socks. I just put the “socklets” in a small plastic bag, and place it in my purse or carry-on prior to exiting the screening checkpoint. No expense for disposable footwear, and no dirt or germs in our shoes!

Donna, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: My family has adopted many of your suggestions into our everyday lives. One of our favorites was a suggestion to laminate the pictures from a daily calendar. We now have a lovely collection of cat place mats created from last year’s wall calendar. They have been a big hit at our weekly book-club meetings.

The Duncan Family, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: Bathmats are expensive, and after many washings the rubber on the bottom wears out, and they become slippery and dangerous. I cut a large piece of rubberized closet shelving to put under the bathmat, and it’s safe again. The shelving does not have to be attached. Just lay it on the floor and put the mat on top.

Henrietta in Toms River, N.J.

Dear Heloise: We have a painting in our hallway and attached little rubber “feet” on the bottom corners to keep the painting straight. Well, one of those little feet decided to leave a sticky brown streak down the wall. I grabbed the white vinegar and a terry rag, and slowly removed every trace of that sticky goo from the wall. I was so pleased!

Donna in Harrisburg, Pa.

Dear Readers: Don’t toss out computer equipment, even if it is outdated. Schools and other organizations may be able to use it. Check with neighborhood schools, online or in the phone book for ideas of how to donate.

Heloise

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

King Features Syndicate