Comments on: Mushrooms Old Enough for a Driver’s License

By: Maurine

Maurine — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:17:59 +0000

Ardis, I appreciate you posting this information and story. As a second term RS president, I am privy to the stories of many families needing help. Each one is different, but each mother or father is humbled by his or her circumstances and is very grateful for the help received. I would be appalled if I sent dirty, damaged clothing or outdated food to the food bank and have some of it given to these families in my ward. Because of that, I always strive to donate newly purchased food for the food drives, and clothes in good condition to the DI.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:06:20 +0000

Thank you again, all, for your wonderful comments and your understanding that, aside from criticism of some recent ‘nacle comments elsewhere, this is intended as encouragement to be more thoughtfully generous, not as condemnation of those who answer the impulse to give but without thinking to place themselves in the position of the receiver.

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:55:17 +0000

Very good post, Ardis. This has been a hard year, and our bishop made a special request to those who could, to contribute generously to the various programs the ward was doing. I feel fortunate to be privy to much of what was donated, and even thinking about it now, I feel close to tears by the generosity shown by our ward members. There are definitely those who understand the principle behind giving.

By: Michelle Glauser

Michelle Glauser — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:50:36 +0000

I add to my sister’s thanks.

By: Eric Boysen

Eric Boysen — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:53:05 +0000

Queuno-

I have no complaint. The storehouse food kept us going through a rough patch. I am glad it was there. The quality of the food was fine. It was nutricious and wholesome. Some things just didn’t agree with me and I am glad I had enough cash for the bacon, the tomato paste and a little garlic.

By: Jami

Jami — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:13:33 +0000

queuno, manna gets monotonous. Even if you add fresh quail. We’re all such mortals.

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:05:40 +0000

Thanks for this.

By: queuno

queuno — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:21:48 +0000

I feel sorry for those who must subsist entirely on church welfare.

If you’re talking about the quality of the food, I challenge you to spend some time in the bishop’s storehouse helping fill orders. I did on one Saturday, and I was astounded at the quality of the food and the generous quantities given those who came in.

Halfway through the shift, the full-time missionaries who served there made us lunch using only food from the shelves. I have seldom eaten so well.

(Your mileage may vary. I was at the storehouse in Carrollton, TX.)

By: Hunter

Hunter — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:01:21 +0000

P.S. Keepa Word of the Day: “grease pencil”

By: Hunter

Hunter — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:00:14 +0000

Great post and discussion. It’s made me resolve to do better at being a more generous giver.

One of the local Deseret Industries managers is in our Ward and he made an impression a while back when he told me how much abject junk the D.I. receives but has to refuse. If a donated item is ruined, torn, tattered, etc., etc., he said, they don’t mess with it: they immediately put it in a bin to ship to the dump. I had a “duh” moment and realized that I was wasting my time donating things that I knew they wouldn’t accept. (Unfortunately, this modification of mine wasn’t out of any sense of charity for the poor.)

So, thanks for the reminder to be a little smarter — and kinder — when giving things to those in need.