Cookies for Kids

The post office had a food drive a couple weeks ago. Blue plastic bags to be filled with non-perishable items were left at each of our mailboxes and a postal worker was scheduled to pick them up anytime after eight o’clock the following Saturday morning.   Last year during this same event, my neighbor’s donation bag was opened by the neighborhood crows. Boxes of things like packaged macaroni and cheese were thrown all over the street. I guess I have a short memory because this year, among the stuff I put out, was a box of instant oatmeal and it met the same fate. I like crows but I was mad at them. This year my neighbor made a special trip to the store for this donation and bought useful and common things: ketchup, mustard, canned beans, canned chili, stuff like that. I think a lot of people use these events to empty their cupboard of can of minced clams and anchovies they’ve had for three years or the dried figs they bought on a whim and now aren’t sure were a good idea. No minced clams in my donation bag but I hadn’t thought to make a designated grocery store run. I thought she was not only generous but clever and next year I’m going to do that. Several years ago a friend of mine told me a story about one of these collections that was taking place where she lived. Her dad went to the store and bought a box of cookies to add to their contribution. When she questioned his choice he reminded her, “Poor children like cookies, too.” I never forgot that and thought it was a brilliant. I just need to see if I can fiind some cookies in a crow-proof metal container.

Photo courtesy silviarita at Pixabay.com