Elders' Kitchen -- donations needed

Friends,

In about four weeks the Elders kitchen will begin making meals for the Elders, their families and the volunteer staff. Every year for almost 20 years we have sought donations of food and money to support this undertaking. In the course of a week we will provide as many as 1500 meals in three dining areas. We also help support the ceremonial celebrations and caregiving between meals and at the Elders host homes.

We have been able to do this because of generous donors from the Vermont Business Community, Gadugi members, friends, and the Elders themselves.

This year our letters are out and the responses are coming in. We are on track, but no ice cream donation from Ben and Jerry's (now part of a multinational ).

We have been asked to lower our budget this year because of the economy and we had overspent last year. Which brings us to the point of this email...we need everyone's help... so let me suggest some ways you can help support the Elders Kitchen.

Easiest and most flexible is a monetary contribution: we thank many including Corrine, Barbara W, Janet, Julie, Shannon, Aviva, Mary K, Eberhart and many others who have been generous financial donors in the past.

You can donate food. I donate the older emergency food I have each year and renew it fresh. Some ideas of what we need are:

Bulk Foods
1 case Eden Soy plain
1 case rice milk
50 lbs bag yellow organic cornmeal
25 lbs lundberg short grain brown rice
25 lbs white basmati rice
25 lbs organic all-purpose flour
20 lbs black turtle beans
10 lbs pinto beans
10 lbs oatmeal
5 lbs green lentils
5 lbs red lentils
5 lbs Arrowhead multigrain pancake mix
5 lbs corn flour
5 lbs pearled barley
1 Pail X-firm Tofu
1 case of Tempeh

The greatest single expense is for animal protein which is Chicken, Fish, Beef etc: Donating the money as a community to support one of these items would be great.

Sea Run Salmon $150
Roast Beef $75
Hamburger $40
Lamb roasts $75
Chicken breast $100
Ocean wild caught fish $100
Fresh Produce: total for 1 week
7 Cases of mixed lettuces
20 lbs green and yellow beans
50 lbs of onions
50 lbs of potatoes
25 lbs of red potatoes
3 cases beet greens
3 cases swish chard
1 case Oranges
1 case Lemons
2 cases Banana
4 cases grapes
1 case peaches,plums or nectarines
2 cases melons
plus:
tomatoes
fresh herbs
spinach
broccoli
Other Items
2 gal Maple Syrup
Fresh native Berries

This gives everyone an idea of what we have to procure. So if you can donate money, great. If you know of a good source for product let me know. If you can donate items let me know if possible by email artobey@gmavt.net . Produce and berries we accept freely, but advanced notice prevents surpluses where we have limited storage capacity.

We have had a great cheese donation every year from Saputo in Hinesburg and many of you know the factory burned down this year leaving many out of work and requiring us to look elsewhere for cheese donations. Perhaps you could help with that...we use Mozzarella, Provolone, Cheddar, Feta, and Goat Cheeses.

All donations are tax deductible...make checks out to Sunray with a clear note that it is for the Suray Elders Kitchen. And if you want to sponsor a particular item, please let me know via email. We will have to order our food items one week before the Gathering. artobey@gmavt.net phone/fax 802-453-5327

Wadogh (thanks)
2009 Sunray Elders Kitchen
Andy, Julie, Shannon, Amy, John, Janet, (hopefully Claire)