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 ♥

For You It's Bread, but for Some - It's Life

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of cooking beside a friend, Chef Myke Eggers, who volunteered his time to help prepare the Community Meal at Christ Episcopal Church for those in need through a program sponsored by the Pottstown Cluster.  

We introduced our diners to Indian cuisine.  Chef Myke prepared delicious naan that he baked from scratch.  Naan is a leavened, oven-baked flatbread that is often served with Indian food.

Chef Myke expressed himself beautifully on his Facebook page, that you should follow right now --> HERE. 

 

For our entree, we made chicken tikka masala where chunks of chicken are marinated in fragrant spices (coriander and cumin) and yogurt, cooked and served in a creamy tomato sauce over rice.  I adapted my slow cooker recipe found HERE by multiplying the ingredient amounts by 12.  

Chef Myke and my wonderful husband, Bob, prepped the chicken, zucchini (from our backyard garden) and onions.  Iced tea was served, brewed with fresh mint from Chef Myke's garden.

Many returned for seconds, and even thirds. 

Pottstown Cluster board president, Allan Altschull, stopped by to personally thank Chef Myke.

Volunteers make it happen.

Anna and Larissa reminded us to introduce the idea of volunteering at an early age to our children.  Anna (right), who wants to be a cupcake baker when she grows up, baked all of the scrumptious muffins that were served for dessert. 

In the words of Chef Myke,  

"Remember the next time you enjoy your meal to be thankful.  For you it's just bread, but for some - it's life."

No one in our community should go hungry.  Contact the Pottstown Cluster at 610-970-5995 to learn more about how you can help.  

~Merrill ♥

Random Act of Kindness, California Tortilla Style

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked, "What are you doing to help others?"  Today the Royersford California Tortilla, known for its delicious fresh Mexican food, answered that question by generously donating dinner for 100 of those in need through the Pottstown Cluster's Community Meal program.

Five days a week there is a place to go in the Pottstown Community for a free hot meal.  The Pottstown Cluster Outreach sponsors the volunteer-driven Community Meals program.  The schedule can be found HERE.

Today there were chicken and beef burritos, tortilla chips, salsa, queso and salad with a scrumptious honey lime dressing, courtesy of the Royersford California Tortilla.

The burritos were huge!
 


There were many happy faces at the meal today.

Our devoted volunteers gathered for a day of willing service (I'm the one wearing the GEEK sweater, naturally).

Allan Altschull, President of the Board of Directors for the Pottstown Cluster, personally thanked the owner of California Tortilla for his generous donation.

 
The next time you visit California Tortilla, please ask for a manager and tell him or her THANK YOU, and maybe give a big hug.  The owner's kindness, compassion and generosity is inspiring and so very much appreciated.

Read more about the community meals our merry band of volunteers have served HERE.  For information on how you can get involved and volunteer, visit the Pottstown Cluster's website.  

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. ~Helen Keller.

~Merrill ♥

It Takes a Village to Feed Those in Need

Hillary Clinton popularized the African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child."  The same can be said for feeding those less privileged.  The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities sponsors a community meal program where hot meals are provided for those in need, five days a week.

With the help of many loyal volunteers, once a month I am the lucky one who gets to coordinate and cook the community meal.

This time we prepared and served roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, apple sauce, corn muffins and pumpkin pie.

Via Facebook, I asked for donations of corn muffins and pumpkin pies.  Krista and her sons baked and delivered 100 corn muffins.  Thank you!

Fourteen pies were donated by caring friends.  Pottsgrove Middle School's Life Skills class baked two pumpkin pies.  How awesome is that?

Pies and muffins!

 
Our village preparing mashed potatoes, with Chris serving as the muscle (thank goodness!).

 
My right-hand woman, Bev, peeling a mountain of carrots.

 
Me.

 
 A time of celebration!

Hunger knows no age limits.

There is no THANKS without GIVING.  Would you please consider helping those in need in our community?  It is easy to make a donation to the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities by clicking HERE.  Thank you! ♥

~Merrill ♥

O Christmas Tree

Over the years, my family has delivered hundreds and hundreds of small living Christmas trees to teachers, therapists, neighbors, family members and friends.  Because our son, Justin, has autism, there have been scads of people who have needed a sign of appreciation at the holidays (and other times, too).  Now that Justin has graduated high school, he no longer has that wonderful support network.  In fact, the lack of accessible services for those with mental health and neurological challenges in the United States is heartbreaking.  If you haven't yet read "I Am Adam Lanza's Mother," you should.  It will take you less than five minutes.  Something must be done.

If you don't like how things are, change it! You're not a [Christmas] tree. - Jim Rohn 

This year, we focused our tree efforts on those who live alone and do not have family members nearby.  These are people who would not likely otherwise have a Christmas tree.

Each package included one live tree, a sparkly frame with a picture of our kids, mini ornaments, ornament hangers, LED battery operated lights and AA batteries.

Small trees are available at nurseries, and even grocery stores.

The mini ornaments and hangers were from Target.

 The battery operated LED lights were also from Target.

If the recipient lived far away, we packed everything inside a free Priority Mail shoe box, available online from the United States Parcel Service HERE, and mailed it.  The USPS will deliver shipping boxes to your home for free.  

This is Justin last year at a nursing home, delivering trees.

 
This holiday season (and throughout the year), surprise someone who needs it.

Merry Christmas! 

~Merrill ♥   

Good Food for a Good Cause

My beloved and I recently attended a fundraiser for Silver Springs - Martin Luther School, an agency that provides trauma recovery and treatment for abused children.  Philadelphia Superstar and Iron Chef Jose Garces selected the menu items, paired the wines and was on hand with his personal team of 14 to supervise the preparation of the dinner.  The sopa de castano, a truffle chestnut soup with duck and wild mushroom hash, was my favorite.  I understand they serve this at Tinto, one of his 15 restaurants.  I'm going!

Three boys served by Silver Springs.

Chef Garces autographed "The Latin Road Home," his new cookbook, travelogue and memoir which takes us to Spain, Cuba, Mexico and Peru.

Chef Garces and his wife, Dr. Beatriz Garces, run The Garces Family Foundation, dedicated to improving the health and education of the underprivileged migrant population of the Greater Philadelphia Area.  Excellent!

 

~Merrill ♥  
 

Shine On, Harvest Moon: 2012 Pottstown Cluster Fundraising Dinner

Here is a wonderful opportunity to help the homeless and the hungry in the Pottstown community.  On Friday, October 12, 2012, the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities will hold a fundraising dinner, complete with delicious food by Bause Catering, musical entertainment and a silent auction, at the Berean Bible Church at 2675 East High Street.  To register, click HERE.

If you follow my blog, you know that I believe the Cluster to be a worthwhile cause, and that I cook Community Meals for those in need.  In addition to providing hot meals to the hungry in the Pottstown community, the Cluster also distributes groceries through its Food Pantry.  In 2011, the Food Pantry provided approximately 550,000 pounds of food (about the weight of two Boeing 747s!) to more than 16,000 individuals, a 34% increase since 2010.  Wow! 

YOU CAN HELP!  

If you are unable to attend the dinner on October 12, then please consider making a donation online.  Or, send a check to: 
Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities, 57 North Franklin Street, Pottstown, PA 19464.  For questions, call:  (610) 970-5995.  Your act of kindness will help feed hungry children and adults in the Pottstown Community.  Thank you! ♥

Here are photos from last year's extravaganza.

Thank you!

 ~Merrill ♥