From a Simmer to a Boil

Brrrrr! It’s really cold out, and although the forecast calls for warmer temperatures over the next few days there can be no doubt that winter is here for the next several weeks.  As the temperatures have dipped down I find myself trying to stay warm with a hot beverage, either coffee or tea.  When the kids came in from enjoying the weekend snow, I warmed them up with yummy cups of hot chocolate.  I’m not the only one turning to warm beverages.  Over the past few weeks at the food pantry I also noticed some of the clients, especially the homeless, asking if we happen to have anything on hand with which to make hot beverages–tea, coffee or hot chocolate.  These are items we do not stock, but every now and then someone will donate some to us.  When we are able to include one of these hot beverages in a household’s monthly food supply, it is always much appreciated.

Due to the success of the baking mix drive in December, I have been wanting to sponsor another drive for February.  I always like to look for ways to make February fun.  By the beginning of February, the cold and early night fall that comes with winter have cast a gloom over me.  I always tell myself if I can make it through February, winter’s spell will be almost over.  Plus it’s my birthday month and who doesn’t want to have fun during their birthday month.  So, to help make February fun and break winter’s spell I want to warm our client’s hearts with hot beverages.  For every household coming in for food in February, I would like for the food pantry to be able to give them a canister of ground coffee, box of tea bags or box of hot chocolate mix.  To do this we will need your help again.  I will leave the size of the canister or box up to you.  We have households ranging from one person to nine people.  Even though we all have our own favorite flavor of tea or coffee, please keep donations to either regular coffee or black tea and hot chocolate mixes that require only adding hot water.

The trend currently exists in coffee shops to pay it forward, whether it is paying for the coffee of the person behind you at the drive thru or buying a community cup of coffee that someone coming in after you leave can use.  Think of this as another way to pay it forward.  For the price you spend on a specialty coffee at Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts, you could purchase a can of coffee or a box of tea bags or hot chocolate mix to warm someone’s heart.  For my local readers, I am happy to pick up items from you and for my farther away readers, like last time, I am happy to purchase items if you want to send a cash donation.  Thank you so much for your generosity.  Now speaking of hot beverages, it’s tea time!