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 However, for some families, the season may contain some
uncertainty. Will there be enough money to pay the rent? Will we
have enough food to last through the kids’ Christmas vacation? How
can we impress upon our children that they are loved when they do
not receive the ‘must have” toy or game of the season?
As we look at the Christmas season, we see that much of it becomes
about getting, and less about giving each year. Even our holiday
music brings to mind what we may get. In the song the 12 Days of
Christmas, it is all about what “my true love gave to me.” Nothing
is said about what the “me” in the song gave back.
At Christmas time, we as parents have a perfect opportunity to
impress upon our young ones that Christmas can and should be about
giving. Remember the story of the Magi, who brought gifts to the
Christ child, or the song of “Good King Wenceslas” who prepared a
feast for a poor man stranded in the winter cold. The Magi knew that
the Christ Child was ultimately a gift to all mankind from the
Heavenly Father. But they did not know him personally. Though he was
a stranger, they came bearing gifts. And, King Wenceslas in the
song, did not know the name of the man outside his window, he only
knew that the stranger was cold and hungry and in need of a gift
that the King had the ability to provide.
 According to Rick Releford at the Lincoln/Logan County Food Pantry,
there are approximately 550 households that are in need of food each
month. Within those households, there are approximately 2,000
people, and about 740 of them are children. At Christmas time, the
demand does increase in no small part due to school-aged children on
break between Christmas and the New Year as they do not have access
to school breakfast and lunch programs.
Releford says that the food pantry is always in need of donations,
and is always grateful for the blessings they receive from the
community. Food products are welcome, and so are cash donations. He
explained that the pantry has access to products from the Central
Illinois Food bank in Springfield, and can purchase food products
for a mere 19 to 20-cents per pound, which is a cost much lower than
what the consumer can purchase food in any retail store in the area.
This year, maybe it is time to create a new family tradition, and a
new memory of celebrating Christmas, by giving instead of getting.
Start by bringing everyone together and talking about the need for
food in the world, and what we as individuals can do to help. It
doesn’t have to be a big grand gesture, small things add up and can
mean a lot to a family who is struggling to make ends meet every day
of the year, but especially at Christmas.
Bearing in mind the 12 days of Christmas, perhaps choose 12 items
that you can give to a local food pantry such as the Lincoln/Logan
County Food Pantry. Let the kids talk about foods that they like
to eat, and bear in mind that there will be a need for kid-friendly
foods in the week after Christmas.
Then, create a "12 Days of Christmas" box where each day, for 12
days, your family can deposit an item to be given to the food
pantry. Perhaps let the kids help with decorating the box. Add
Christmas wrapping paper or bows or both.
Now, it is time to make a list, what will you put in your box?
Releford made an important point, saying that it is good to have
kid-friendly foods. He was speaking specifically about cereal, which
he says in always in high demand. Even so, it brings to light an
important point. We do want to see folks eat healthy, but if you
give foods that a kid won’t eat, what good does it do?
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If you have kids helping with this project, let them offer up some
suggestions, with your guidance of course. Foods kids like to eat
like peanut butter, or snack crackers can be a part of the donation.
Releford said that the pantry would take all kinds of foods from
bread to meats to fresh fruits and veggies. The one thing they
discourage is products packaged in glass containers.
Choose 12 items, one for each of the 12 Days of Christmas. Items
such as bread, peanut butter, individual instant oatmeal, single
serving microwaveable mac and cheese, snack crackers, and fresh
fruits that keep well such as apples. Celery is a long-keeping fresh
veggie that a lot of kids like with peanut butter. Individually
boxed raisins, cold cereal, juice boxes, pudding or jello cups, and
also fruit cups are things that are easy for kids or the babysitter
to fix while parents are at work.
Releford said that baking supplies are also a nice thing to add this
time of year. The food pantry will take items such as cookie mixes,
brown sugar, powdered sugar, flour, regular sugar, and more.
The food box doesn’t necessarily have to be aimed at kids. There are
several seniors who can benefit from this type of gift as well. For
those folks, canned veggies and canned fruit can be a good gift,
along with canned soups and canned juices.
Other nice things to add might be items that could be used to
prepare a Christmas dinner. Creamy mushroom soup, canned green
beans, and French fried onions are all that is needed for a
traditional green bean casserole. Canned yams, or even fresh sweet
potatoes, brown sugar, and a bag of marshmallows will make up
another holiday dish popular in many households.
And finally, add a bit of holiday joy with a box of candy canes and
a Christmas Card.
As you and your family go through the process, each day adding an
item to the box from the shopping list, you may begin to see the joy
of giving, the happiness that comes from opening your heart and
thinking about what you can do for someone else to make another
family holiday better and brighter than it might otherwise have
been.
Then, when next year comes around, you may remember that time you
spent together - planning, thinking, decorating, and delivering the
special gift you created for a stranger.
You can confer on the needs at the pantry by calling 217-732-6644.
On Christmas week, the Lincoln/Logan County Food Pantry will be open
on Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Thursday afternoon
from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The pantry is located at 125 N. Logan Street
in Lincoln.
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