Feel-Good Friday: Some Early Holiday Cheer Through Food Banks, Aldi, and Samaritan’s Purse

We are a little over a week before the November 5 election, and while I am enjoying the meltdown of Kamala Harris’ campaign, I am also on pins and needles with concern about what Trump rightly called “cheating and skullduggery.” As are many of you, I am waiting for the other shoe to drop, and praying this country is prepared if it does.

But Feel-Good Friday is about getting away from all that, and one of the ways I do is to focus on holiday giving! While people are rightly annoyed that the weather is barely cold and we’re already seeing snowmen, nutcrackers, and artificial trees in Costco, my focus is on contributing to a happy holiday for others. The beauty part about being an American is that even when the chips are down, we are people who give—especially to those in need. This year, with hurricanes and other disasters, we have a lion’s share of need.

To kick off this week’s Feel-Good Friday, I spotlight volunteers at the Northern Illinois Food Bank, who are stoking the feels by preparing food boxes for the upcoming holidays. 

“I’ve been here about three months after I finally retired and needed something to do and thought this was a good place to start,” Edwards said as she worked with a host of other volunteers packing food boxes on Thursday morning at the Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva. “I’m here every Thursday morning and afternoon. This certainly makes you feel good about helping other people.”

Scores of other volunteers as well as company sponsor representatives were also at the food bank Thursday as it continues the massive effort of preparing food boxes for those in need for the upcoming holiday season.

In a press release, officials said this year marks 25 years of the annual Holiday Meal Box program at the food bank, “ensuring all neighbors can enjoy a special holiday meal with their loved ones.”

“This year, thanks to the generous support of sponsors and volunteers, the food bank will be providing 50,000 holiday meal boxes to neighbors facing hunger across 13 counties in rural and suburban Northern Illinois,” the release said.

Thursday’s effort featured both morning and afternoon sessions including more than 40 volunteers in the morning and 75 in the afternoon.

What a well-organized machine, especially in this critical year. Even if Trump wins the election, we are stuck with the rotten inflation and horrible policies of Biden-Harris until well after Trump takes the oath of office; so this holiday season, people need support more than ever.

Ken Madden, program manager for the Northern Illinois Food Bank, noted that the price of food keeps going up.

“The cost of food continues to go up, but we are still receiving a lot of donations. The issue is a lack of resources and we have seen more neighbors reaching out to our network than we ever have before,” he said. “We have the cost of food going up – the cost per turkey is about $15 and we order 25,000 and that cost is pretty high.”

Northern Illinois Food Bank offers a number of ways to contribute. If you’re in the area, you can sign up to volunteer. You can also contribute funds, or mount a crowdfund or fundraiser on their behalf. There are food banks in every part of the country, and many of them are ramping up, or already ramped up, to serve people for the holidays. I encourage you to find one in your area where you can volunteer your time, give of your talents, or offer up your treasure. 

Aldi is also being innovative. This food retailer cannot remotely be accused of price gouging. Over the last year, their sales have increased because they have kept prices reasonable for individuals and especially families. Aldi also carries a great selection of fresh meats. Grass-fed and finished ribeye? Aldi is my go-to place. 

Last week, Aldi announced that it is offering a complete Thanksgiving family gift basket for $47!

The ALDI Thanksgiving shopping list includes a 16 pound Butterball turkey with spices, gravy, rolls, mac & cheese, stuffing – plus the ingredients for cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie.   

As ALDI always does, you can get these deals without having to clip coupons, or sign up for any loyalty programs. (Here are 8 things to know before you go if you’ve never shopped at ALDI.)

The basket items have not arrived at my local Aldi yet, but my plan is to purchase a basket and give it to a family in need. If you have an Aldi in your area, I recommend you do the same, or donate a basket or two to your local food bank.

Finally, Samaritan’s Purse is my go-to charity for stoking good vibes and holiday cheer. They deserve props for the work their teams have done to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton, as well as other tragedies and disasters that didn’t trip our radar, but where fellow Americans were impacted, nonetheless. Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has spearheaded Operation Christmas Child, where people fill a shoebox with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies for overseas children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine, and disease. 

In 2011 we were busted, broke, and scraping bottom. Operation Christmas Child allowed me to give to someone who had less than me, and to inexpensively contribute to a good cause. I partnered with a friend to buy items, and we packed three boxes. Except for a gap year here and there, I have contributed and packed at least one shoebox for the past 13 years. This year, I am happy to contribute two. Samaritan’s Purse encourages writing a note to the boy or girl to whom you are contributing, and even include a photo of yourself. They even allow you to track your box to see where on the planet it ends up. I kind of like not knowing; for me, it is enough that as poor as I think I am, I can contribute small things that will become treasures to a young child.

Western North Carolina, North Georgia, and parts of Eastern Tennessee and Florida are still recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Organizations like Samaritan’s Purse are on the ground delivering goods and aiding the recovery. So, if you don’t wish to pack a shoebox, you can always contribute to these efforts. Operation Save Christmas is also an effort being mounted to encourage North Carolina locals and visitors to buy Fraser Fir Christmas trees from Western North Carolina, in order to contribute to their positive economic outcome this Christmas.

So many opportunities to stir real joy and ensure a happy holiday for those who truly need one.