Joy & Comfort Holiday Basket Drive

Eat Share invites you to share Joy & Comfort this holiday season--

A few years ago, I worked with a patient in the hospital--a gentleman with a developmental disability whose life had been altered by a traumatic injury that left him unable to walk. He had spent weeks in the hospital awaiting his transition of care to a rehabilitation facility, and as anyone could imagine, he was antsy and bored most of the time, defeated and unmotivated to work much with our therapy team. During one of our conversations, as I pressed to find a spark of joy to connect him to, he suddenly shared with me that his room "needed to be more beautiful". It was December and the Christmas holiday was near, and this man wanted his own tree "with lights and a star".

I shared this desire with my coworkers at the hospital, and over the course of a few days, with one donated piece at a time--a simple wish became a reality. And in the glow of tree lights, this patient found a renewed spirit. With the support, patience and teaching of an amazing therapy team, he was eventually able to stand for a few moments and add a decoration to his tree.

The Grinch captured it best when he realized that the magic of the holidays doesn't come in a box or get purchased at the store. The joy of the season comes from people demonstrating kindness, compassion, and care for each other in all the big and small ways we can muster.

To help local families celebrate this year, Eat Share invites donations for Joy & Comfort Baskets--the kind of foods, games, activites, and items that make the holidays special for you and yours, shared with neighbors. This year, we welcome volunteers to participate in one of two ways:

1. CREATE A JOY & COMFORT BASKET AND ARRANGE PICK UP FOR DELIVERY BY AN EAT SHARE REP

Create your own basket and we will arrange pick up from you prior to December 20th. Baskets will be delivered to identified families in the community on Saturday, Dec 21st by Eat Share Volunteer Elves:

Some ideas include:

FOOD, the quickest way to warm the soul:

• the ingredients to make your families' favorite brunch casserole, a quart of soup and bread, or a box of homemade cookies

• a box of cocoa, some mugs, and your kid's favorite toppings included

• a gift card to your favorite local restaurant for when the family is holiday's out and doesn't want to cook

• a savory cheese & cracker snack basket, or fresh fruits & dip, or a tin of homemade fudge

• grocery store gift card with your favorite holiday recipes written out from each family member

SCENTS, the strongest sense tied to memory:

• your favorite cozy scented candle with a fuzzy blanket or fun slippers, accompanied by some books the family can read together

• a handwritten simmer pot recipe with all the ingredients packaged together

FUN, because who doesn't deserve a good time and maybe a new family tradition:

• your favorite family board game or craft/activity kit with snacks

• a gift card to the local movie theatre

• a spa basket for a little rest and relaxation

2. GET PARTNERED WITH YOUR OWN EAT SHARE FAMILY & DELIVER A SPECIALLY CURATED BASKET

   
   

Sign up and we will partner you with one of our Food Forward families local to your own community. With their permission, we will share some details about their family so you can specially curate a Joy & Comfort basket to their needs/interests.

• You are welcome to arrange delivery of this basket yourself on Saturday, December 21st

• OR we can arrange pick up of your specially curated basket and deliver to the family for you

We welcome a personal note or card to accompany your basket

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To participate: message us online, send an email to eatsharelove@yahoo.com, or contact Kristy at 570-971-8831