Killing two birds with one stone since I'm getting Carla's freezer stocked before the baby arrives and picking up new readers who are interested in those kinds of meals."
She had also been chatting by email with the graphic artist in Chicago who would be making the new logo and border art for Amy's Kitchen. The blog would look completely different, in a very good way. She was so happy Rori had convinced her to go to the blogging conference. Esther Mae's death had been the only bad thing about the experience.
The yoga teacher was also at the food pantry meeting, but she sat two tables away in the packed conference room. Rori had decided to help with the giveaway after Amy told her about it at the conference. The library's room was the biggest space the organization could find to hold the gathering as the event had picked up more and more volunteers wanting to help. At the front of the room, the director of the pantry, Liz, called the meeting to order. Charms on her bracelet glinted in the harsh overhead lights as she waved a notebook over her head to get the crowd's attention.
During the proceedings, Amy cycled between sipping her latte, taking notes, and doodling flowers and curlicues around the notes as she listened. Organizers had procured frozen turkeys and chickens for over 200 families, along with ingredients to make side dishes like green bean casserole and rice pilaf. Donors to the pantry had taken advantage of Thanksgiving sales to stock the shelves and freezers with food that would last for far more than a single holiday meal for a family in need. One of the tasks that Amy had worked on was making a recipe booklet, in case any of the families didn't know how to cook a whole turkey or what to do with canned yams. She and Sophie were to be roving cooking consultants during the giveaway to help answer any questions that recipients might have about preparing the foods they were receiving.
Rori's arm shot up when the director completed the list of food that had been collected. "What about meals for vegetarians or vegans?"
The director's cheerful smile flattened into a thin line as she peered over the top of her glasses to zero in on the objector. She flipped through a few pages in her notebook then said, "We should be able to add a few extra vegetables to take the place of the meat."
Rori shook her head. "There are products that mimic meat, like seitan or TVP. Those things should be available to people who want them for a main protein source instead of throwing in an extra can of creamed corn to replace a turkey. That isn't an acceptable trade off. People shouldn't have to give up their dietary preferences just because they've fallen on hard times."
"I agree with your sentiment. However, I'm not a vegetarian, so I have to admit I'm not familiar with the products you are suggesting for meat replacements. I haven't heard any complaints from anybody about the food we offer until now." The director, who owned a cleaning service, had been super-organized and unflappable through all of the planning meetings before then, but the newcomer's demands cracked her professional demeanor a bit. She tossed the notebook onto the table in front of her. "I don't know how we can come up with a decent supply of any of the foods you have suggested this close to the giveaway date, let alone where to get them."
"I can take care of that. The food will be the contribution from my business, Yoga For You."
Liz nodded at Rori. "Thank you. Food never goes to waste, so I appreciate you and your business's help."
The meeting continued after the tense discussion with Rori. People volunteered for roles from transporting the food from the pantry's warehouse to the library where it would be distributed, to traffic coordinators who would help keep the expected line of cars from blocking traffic. Soon the meeting adjourned, and the room filled with chatter. Amy had planned on talking with Rori, but the dedicated vegan rushed out the door. Maybe she
She had also been chatting by email with the graphic artist in Chicago who would be making the new logo and border art for Amy's Kitchen. The blog would look completely different, in a very good way. She was so happy Rori had convinced her to go to the blogging conference. Esther Mae's death had been the only bad thing about the experience.
The yoga teacher was also at the food pantry meeting, but she sat two tables away in the packed conference room. Rori had decided to help with the giveaway after Amy told her about it at the conference. The library's room was the biggest space the organization could find to hold the gathering as the event had picked up more and more volunteers wanting to help. At the front of the room, the director of the pantry, Liz, called the meeting to order. Charms on her bracelet glinted in the harsh overhead lights as she waved a notebook over her head to get the crowd's attention.
During the proceedings, Amy cycled between sipping her latte, taking notes, and doodling flowers and curlicues around the notes as she listened. Organizers had procured frozen turkeys and chickens for over 200 families, along with ingredients to make side dishes like green bean casserole and rice pilaf. Donors to the pantry had taken advantage of Thanksgiving sales to stock the shelves and freezers with food that would last for far more than a single holiday meal for a family in need. One of the tasks that Amy had worked on was making a recipe booklet, in case any of the families didn't know how to cook a whole turkey or what to do with canned yams. She and Sophie were to be roving cooking consultants during the giveaway to help answer any questions that recipients might have about preparing the foods they were receiving.
Rori's arm shot up when the director completed the list of food that had been collected. "What about meals for vegetarians or vegans?"
The director's cheerful smile flattened into a thin line as she peered over the top of her glasses to zero in on the objector. She flipped through a few pages in her notebook then said, "We should be able to add a few extra vegetables to take the place of the meat."
Rori shook her head. "There are products that mimic meat, like seitan or TVP. Those things should be available to people who want them for a main protein source instead of throwing in an extra can of creamed corn to replace a turkey. That isn't an acceptable trade off. People shouldn't have to give up their dietary preferences just because they've fallen on hard times."
"I agree with your sentiment. However, I'm not a vegetarian, so I have to admit I'm not familiar with the products you are suggesting for meat replacements. I haven't heard any complaints from anybody about the food we offer until now." The director, who owned a cleaning service, had been super-organized and unflappable through all of the planning meetings before then, but the newcomer's demands cracked her professional demeanor a bit. She tossed the notebook onto the table in front of her. "I don't know how we can come up with a decent supply of any of the foods you have suggested this close to the giveaway date, let alone where to get them."
"I can take care of that. The food will be the contribution from my business, Yoga For You."
Liz nodded at Rori. "Thank you. Food never goes to waste, so I appreciate you and your business's help."
The meeting continued after the tense discussion with Rori. People volunteered for roles from transporting the food from the pantry's warehouse to the library where it would be distributed, to traffic coordinators who would help keep the expected line of cars from blocking traffic. Soon the meeting adjourned, and the room filled with chatter. Amy had planned on talking with Rori, but the dedicated vegan rushed out the door. Maybe she
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