Random Acts of Kindness: Spaghetti with a Side of Love

Today we served 90 meals of spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread, Caesar salad, mixed veggies, fruit salad and a variety of scrumptious desserts to those in need -- no questions asked.  Every third Monday, our merry band of volunteers can be found at Christ Episcopal Church, serving hot meals to anyone in need, through a community meals program sponsored by the Pottstown Cluster Outreach.

We have great fun while working to make each person feel special. 

  

Our group's aim is to not only feed those in need, but to inspire others to practice kindness.  

For many, the dinner we cook is their only meal of the day.  Over 49 million Americans are food insecure, meaning they don't know where they will get food for their next meal. The average food stamp budget is $3.00 a day. We have some work to do, folks.  

Our volunteers sit with our guests and talk about things that are important to them.  Today one gentleman shared his earliest childhood memory.  He said he vividly recalls when he was three, he helped his dad build a house in the Poconos.  Another proudly talked about his seven kids and oodles of grandkids, and how much he looks forward to being a great grandpa some day.

If you have been thinking about volunteering, just do it!  Don't wait for a friend to join you.  Just pick up the phone and call your library or a food bank or wherever you think there might be a need for a smile and a helping hand.  Your heart will be glad you did.

If you live in the Pottstown area, the Cluster could really use your help.  Click HERE for the online volunteer form, or call Vicki Bumstead at:  (610) 970-5995.

♥ Merrill 

Random Acts of Kindess: Martin Luther King Day of Service

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked, "What are you doing to help others?"  Our merry band of volunteers celebrated Dr. King's birthday by preparing, cooking and serving 83 hot meals for those in need through a local Community Meals program sponsored by the Pottstown Cluster.  Twenty volunteers of all ages worked together to make this meal a success!

On the menu was a delicious pasta with a creamy butternut squash sauce (see recipe below), made possible by a generous donation of beautiful, fresh butternut squash and onions by Barry Davis Produce Stand.  Be sure to like them on Facebook, and visit their stand for fresh fruit and vegetables.  A huge thank you to Barry and Peggy Davis! ♥

Preparation for this Monday meal started on Saturday, when volunteers arrived at our house armed with cutting boards, peelers and knives.  Six hours later, the veggies were prepped, cooked and the sauce was very close to being ready.  Emmanuel Lutheran Church donated a ham that we diced, pan fried and added to the yummy sauce.

Everyone loved the meal!

Here is the pasta recipe that makes 4 servings.  I multiplied it many, many, many times, using 100 cups of onions and about 14 squashes, although I may have lost track. 

PASTA WITH A CREAMY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SAUCE
PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup onion, diced
2 cloves minced garlic (I use the stuff in a jar from Costco)
4 heaping cups peeled and diced butternut squash
2 cups chicken stock (I used the concentrated kind in a jar, also from Costco)
1/8 teaspoon thyme
1 bay leaf
salt & pepper, to taste, being sure to taste as you go

12 oz. ham, diced (optional)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup heavy cream

2/3 lb. pasta, cooked to al dente (I used farfalle)

Directions:

Heat olive oil in large skillet. Sauté diced onion until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and diced butternut squash and cook another 3 minutes. Add chicken stock, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Cover and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until squash is tender. Remove bay leaf and puree in blender until completely smooth. Heat skillet.  Add diced ham and fry until browned.  Stir in ham bits, Parmesan cheese and cream. Toss with cooked pasta, serve and enjoy!

The Pottstown Cluster helps individuals make real progress in moving from dependence to productive self-sufficiency.  In addition to providing hot meals to those in need in the Pottstown community, the Cluster distributes groceries through its Food Pantry, and its Dry Goods program provides clothing, personal hygiene products and cleaning supplies.  Read about these wonderful programs and others HERE.

You can help!  Make an online donation through the secure website, and learn how you can volunteer.  "The time is always right to do what is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

~Merrill ♥

Community Meal for Those in Need; Young and Old Alike

Every single day of the week, there is a place for those who are hungry to go for a FREE hot meal in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.  This is amazing and wonderful!  I am so proud of my community. ♥  The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities organizes the community meal program which takes place at various churches in Pottstown.  

For the daily meal schedule, click HERE, or scroll down to the bottom of the page.  If you are lucky enough to have food on your table every day and want to help those less fortunate, VOLUNTEER, or make a DONATION.  It's easy.  If you have questions, please feel free to ask me.  

For this meal, I prepared macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, green beans, peaches, rolls and a plethora of fancy desserts, all provided at no charge to those in need in our Pottstown Community.

Many thanks to Fr. Terry and Christ Episcopal Church for allowing us to use their church to feed so many.  Christ Episcopal is located at 316 East High Street, between Rite Aid and the Farmers' Market.  Deacon-in-training, Robin, blessed the food before the meal.  Robin helped the disabled and young children with their trays and also joined the diners during their meal, discussing with them their concerns.  Thank you, Robin, and WELCOME! ♥    

Feeding those in need would not be possible without the help of volunteers.  Thank you so very much for your big hearts! ♥

Here is the meal schedule for Pottstown:

How can you worship a homeless man on Sunday and ignore one on Monday?  You can't.  Volunteer! 

 Until next time,

~Merrill ♥ 

No One Should Go Hungry. Period.

Feeding those in need is not a spectator sport.  What could be more exciting and rewarding than getting personally involved in ensuring that no one goes hungry?  The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities provides FREE hot meals to those in need five days a week.  Click HERE for a meal schedule and HERE to see how you can help those in the Pottstown community.

Today our band of merry volunteers served over 50 lbs. of macaroni and cheese, 30 lbs. of fresh green beans, 14 lbs. of peaches, rolls and dessert to close to 100 folks who might have otherwise gone hungry.  

 
As always, I would like to thank Christ Episcopal Church for lending us their home.  

I have my friend and gym partner, Dee, to thank for passing along Paula Deen's Southern green bean preparation pointers.   

RECIPE:  SOUTHERN GREEN BEANS FOR 100

First, enlist your beloved in trimming one bushel of fresh green beans.  This task took both of us well over an hour.  Heat olive oil in huge pot over medium high heat.  Add ham hocks or shanks.  I used shanks as our grocery store was out of hocks.  Add two large chopped onions and 1/4 cup of fresh minced garlic.  Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions began to soften.  Add water to cover and simmer covered for 45 minutes.  Add green beans and fill pot half way with water.  Return lid to pot, reduce heat and simmer until done.  Remove ham hocks/shanks.  Shred meat, discard bones and add meat bits to pot.  Add 1/2 lb. butter or margarine.  Salt to taste and mix thoroughly.  Transfer to extra large serving bowl (or two).  Enjoy!  
   

 

Teach your kids by example.  Volunteer and make a difference in the life of another. ♥  

~Merrill

Special Olympics Challenges and Delights Montgomery County Athletes

Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.

Students from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania gathered today at Souderton Area High School to compete in, and support, Special Olympics.  Pottsgrove High School athletes, teachers, therapists, aides and buddies enjoyed a day of sun and fun.

Pottsgrove High School's band played on while athletes and buddies boarded their buses.

 

Five years ago, life skills class teacher extraordinaire, Melissa DeStefano, approached Pottsgrove School District with the hope of having her students participate in Special Olympics.  The district approved, and her athletes have returned each year since earning many awards and fond memories.  Thank you, Mrs. DeStefano and Pottsgrove School District! ♥

Every one expressed excitement in his or her own way.

Justin and fellow Olympians announced the arrival of Team Pottsgrove by carrying a handmade banner around the track. 

A Souderton Area High School student kicked off the games with the Olympic Torch Relay.

Running.  If you were to ask Justin what he did at Special Olympics, he would tell you "running, jumping, throwing."  Here he is giving the 200m his all.

Justin's Pottsgrove High School buddies did a great job making sure he arrived at each event on time.

Educating someone with autism is a huge job.  Here is Justin with some of the amazing people who work with him: his teacher, speech therapist, occupational therapist and ESY/gym teacher.

 Lauren would not have missed supporting her brother for anything.

Jumping.

Justin and his pal, Josh.

Throwing.

We do not remember days; we remember moments.  Today was filled with wonderful moments. ♥

~Merrill ♥ 

Rigatoni with Meat Sauce for 100+

Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ~Margaret Mead

With a record turnout of over 100, today marked my fourth time preparing a Pottstown Cluster Community Meal for those in need.  A hungry crowd enjoyed eight pans of rigatoni with meat sauce, Caesar salad from 30 heads of romaine and homemade croutons, 21 lbs. of fruit, bread and a plethora of desserts.  There were no leftovers.

Previous meals have included shepherd's pie, tuna casserole and Pennsylvania Dutch pork roast.

In the Pottstown area, free hot meals are served five days a week to those in need.  How cool is that?  If you know someone who is in need of a meal, check out the Pottstown Cluster's Community Meal schedule HERE. ♥

No one is cherished more in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another.  Hip hip hooray for our volunteers!

Click HERE to see how you, too, can volunteer with the Pottstown Cluster and make a difference in the lives of others.

~Merrill ♥  

The 2nd Annual Golf Outing to Benefit the Pottstown Cluster a Big Success

Over $12,000 was raised at a recent charity golf outing at Bellewood Golf Club to benefit the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities.  The Cluster addresses the spiritual, social and basic needs of persons within the Greater Pottstown community. 

My husband and daughter participated in the tournament, while my son and I arrived later for dinner as we are not really golfers (think Caddyshack).  Lauren made a 45-foot putt!  Wowie kazowie!

Board president, Allan Altschull, enlisted Lauren's help in selling 50/50 tickets.

Justin took a sneak peek at the silent auction offerings.

 
A great big thank you to all of the local area merchants who made donations for the silent auction.

Following the match, there was a bit of whistle wetting going on. 

This team shot a 60, which I understand to be super duper!

Bellewood Golf Club prepared a delicious dinner. 

Three cheers to Cluster director, Barbara Wilhelmy, and tournament co-chair, George Bell, who did an outstanding job! 

If you believe that no one in the Pottstown area should go hungry, please consider making a donation by clicking HERE, or by calling:  610-970-5995.  Thank you! 

~Merrill ♥  

Come One, Come All to Pottstown Regional Public Library's Backdoor Used Book Sale

Summer reading time is just around the corner.  Come check out the bargains at the Friends of the Library backdoor used book sale at the Pottstown Regional Public Library this Friday, May 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 19 from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Proceeds from the book sale will go towards purchasing a much needed copy machine for our library.  Cool!   

Drum roll, please.  A great big thank you to everyone who volunteered their afternoon to set up for sale.  You are all kinds of awesome! ♥  

Click HERE to get the 4-1-1 on the last used book sale. 

~Merrill ♥