LITTLE ROCK — DEAR HELOISE: I felt sad to see criticism of gifts of food, which had been given when people knew the family was grieving.
When my father passed away, my family arrived from many locations out of town. We were so thankful to have food to last the week. I felt that going to the store and preparing food was the least of our worries. Because our parents’ church members also are elderly and would not be able to help out, we were thankful that neighbors and friends just dropped the food by the house. Once again, it meant we did not have to even think about food! I feel a gift card for food would have created hardship, because then we’d have had to shop at that store, decide what to get, cook it, etc.
A gift of food is so personal and so sweet. How often do we allow others to show they care by allowing them to “do for us” that lowly gift of feeding us during a stressful time? After your article ran, I have started rewriting thank-you notes to each of these friends who gave food to let them know how much we really did appreciate their kindness.
- Gwen C., Bakersfield, Calif.
DEAR READER: My condolences on the loss of your father. Thank you for writing with your experience and viewpoint. I don’t think the reader was criticizing people who brought food. She was only sharing a suggestion.
DEAR HELOISE: I love cardboard storage boxes with the beautiful print paper, but they are expensive. I already was using clear plastic boxes and three-drawer plastic chests in my closet. Then I got an idea. I bought bright colored wrapping paper and cut it to fit the front of the boxes and drawers. I taped it on the inside of the plastic boxes and drawers, and voila!Pretty and very inexpensive closet storage.
- Marilyn in California Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or e-mail [email protected]
Style, Pages 32 on 10/26/2010