Picture the impact of a ‘smile’ weekend. I’ve asked Sarah Harrington to select the four items that bring a smile to the faces of those who come to the family for food support.
These items, when seen, bring a rare moment of joy.
The number of people seeking food support and food costs have risen sharply. It is no fun to be able to feed your family; giving our neighbors in trouble a chance to smile a lot and keep their dignity is precious.
The pantry must often accept whatever the food banks send them, which may only sometimes align with what people in distress genuinely need. The food banks are also stressed, and their government support is being slashed.
Your support is the key to making this ‘smile’ weekend work. We can bring joy and hope to those in need.
Specific food items can uplift spirits, evoke memories of better times, and instill hope for the future in families.
The Cambridge Pantry Wish List includes the four items Sarah is out of and six more that have gone off the pantry shelves and need to be full again.
By accessing the Wish List, you are taking a step towards making a difference. Feel free to browse the list, as it is updated frequently. When Sarah has enough items to last a few days (there is not much storage space), she takes them down.
You can purchase any of the others. Your contribution matters. And thanks.
This smile campaign will run through the weekend until Monday morning.
If you are inside the pantry when the families come, you see them smile and light up when they see items they used to be able to get and still want very much. Unlike most food pantries, this one has no trouble determining what its patrons want. They always ask.
They work hard to respect the dignity of people who need help.
Here are the four items that always get a smile when spotted.
1. Efferendent Retainer Cleaning Tablets, Tablets For Dental Appliances, 102 Tablets, $5.49.
3. Stuffing Mix Turkey Flavor, 6 Oz., $1.42.
4. Velveeta Shells & Cheese, Stuffing Mix Turkey Flavor, 6 Oz, $1.42.
NOTE: I’ll post these items this evening, tomorrow, and Sunday—three days to take your time and see what, if anything, you can do. I buy three or four lower-priced items each day and save the more expensive ones for later in the weekend. In this case, $10 isn’t costly and will keep many teeth clean in a family.
You can access the Cambridge Food Pantry Wish List 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When Sarah has enough of the requested items, she’ll remove them from the list and add others. All of them are needed.
You can access the Wish List here using the green button at the bottom of every blog post.
Sarah Harrington, Executive Director of the Cambridge Food Pantry, fiercely advocates for the hungry and frightened. Please help if you can.