Special Holiday Food? Maybe.

I am frequently asked, from clients, donors, and volunteers, if WAFER does anything “special” for Thanksgiving or Christmas. In other words, do we distribute holiday food packages, give each client a turkey or a ham, or offer gift cards for holiday shopping? The answer to all of these is “no,” and here is why:

WAFER's purpose is to provide the kinds of foods people eat on a regular basis, not just for holidays or special occasions, though we do our best to accommodate those times when and if possible. The Coulee Region is fortunate to have a Community Thanksgiving Dinner, which takes the pressure off many pantries and meal sites for that meal. Other organizations supply gifts, food baskets, or festive meals to many people, including those who are WAFER clients. Yet, once the turkey is sliced or the pie devoured, people still must eat. Once the last of the leftovers have been swallowed, plates must still be filled. Hunger doesn't stop because the holiday is over. WAFER concentrates on getting groceries to the hungry so that they have food to eat day in and day out, not just a couple of days a year. That being said, we are extremely grateful to those organizations that do provide special meals.

Nevertheless, WAFER will look for ways to incorporate some aspect of holiday food if at all possible. For example, stuffing mixes, instant mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin are generally available at low cost to the pantry. Each year, during this time, we keep our eyes open for deals on baking items, including pie crusts and nuts. Finally, through word of mouth, we let businesses know they can donate extra fruit baskets or other goodies ordered for their own employees. One local business gifts their staff with Thanksgiving turkeys, but let s their employees know they can “regift” the turkeys to WAFER. Special arrangements are made to receive the birds.

I hope this helps you understand a little bit better about how WAFER operates and why it makes certain food choices.