Did you know Seniors make up a huge percentage of folks who avail themselves of Food Bank donations?    Why I didn't know this, I don't know.  It really never occurred to me.  I always pictured families, and single men.  Wrong I know but that was what was in my head.

Well, Day 21 began with fluffy Charlie Brown snowflakes and as the day is ending, we still have snow.   My dogs actually benefited from my first gift of the day now that I am back in the land of living again.  Still not 100% but better.  We were able to get back into our practice of playing ball first thing every morning.  I have a ball thrower that I advise everyone to get for their dog if you don't already have one - greatest invention that sends the ball flying farther than you could ever throw and allows you to pick it up without getting all goobery.

Anyways,  back to the needy people who frequent the Food banks . . .  there are lovely older people who can't make ends meet and need to survive on our generosity.  I learned of this today and it caused me to make a few changes in my 'cookbook'.   I wanted to include some recipes that my Mother would appreciate now that she is in her 80's.   She lives in an apartment attached to our home and still enjoys her independence.  Eating is no longer something she enjoys so we continually work at finding things she'll be happy with.  She suffers with Diabetes so she can't just not eat -  the opposite of so many people who eat just to eat.   She also has Parkinsons which makes swallowing difficult so meals become almost a chore for her. 

In discovering the growing need of Seniors requiring assistance with their food needs, made me go back to the computer and make some changes.  Not that older people don't know how to cook, but sometimes they need inspiration and finding something different on the written page might do the trick.   Small or single serving ideas I thought would be appreciated.  As I wrote about in an earlier post, my Mother raised a large family and cooking for 9 is so very different than cookng for one.   My Father passed away 7 years ago and she still finds herself cooking something he would have enjoyed.  Helping Seniors who find themselves alone is something I have become passionate about!   The cookbook is expanding with recipes like  Tuna loaf with a creamy white sauce is one my Mother will eat.  Single lasagna roll ups is another.

So my gift on Day 21 of 29 Gifts is delivering some cook booklets for families and going back to the drawing board and adding in a section for Singles and Seniors!

See you tomorrow,  and Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends,

If you would like to read about my journey so far, I give you the posts below:

DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4
DAY 5
DAY 6
DAY 7
DAY 8
DAY 9
DAY 10
DAY 11
DAY 12
DAY 13
DAY 14
DAY 15
DAY 16
DAY 17
DAY 18
DAY 19
DAY 20