Hey there, friends! While it's supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year for some, it's been a tough one, considering the state of the climate, ongoing conflicts, and destruction. I'm finding it hard to muster up that classic holly-jolly feeling. I've begun playing Christmas tunes to lift my spirits and dabbling in a few holiday recipes, but I'm also realizing it's perfectly alright not to feel overly festive this season.

Even though I haven't received a request to create a gift guide, I thought, why not? I have a real fondness for giving and getting gifts, and there's a joy in assisting folks in finding the perfect presents for their nearest and dearest!

This year, I aimed to take a fresh approach to the gift guide. Imagine the significance of sending a meal in honor of your grandmother or setting up a recurring donation for your college-aged cousin, who's deeply passionate about social causes. It's about redefining the notion of gifting to something truly meaningful.

By the way, for the complete Pass Me A Plate experience, I highly suggest downloading the Substack app. It's the optimal way to dive into the newsletter and discover similar Substacks like mine! Happy reading!

Feeding America

Feeding America operates a robust nationwide network of food banks, pantries, and community-based organizations, all united in the mission to eliminate hunger. It's an excellent resource for locating local food banks where you can contribute goods or volunteer your time. Every $1 donated helps distribute a minimum of 10 meals, making a significant impact. You can access the National Food Bank database through this network. DONATE HERE

Food Gatherers

Food Gatherers stands as the premier anti-hunger initiative in Washtenaw County. They collaborate with a network of hunger-relief partners, encompassing various agencies and programs offering direct food support across multiple fronts: schools, clinics, low-income housing complexes, shelters, counseling programs, faith-based organizations, and services for seniors, the disabled, individuals with mental illness, and those in substance abuse recovery. DONATE HERE

Gleaners

Based in Detroit, Gleaners operates across five Southeast Michigan counties: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, and Monroe. Through partnerships with nearly 400 soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, schools, and various agencies in the region, Gleaners distributes food. Additionally, they support partners with direct service drive-up grocery distributions. Gleaners goes beyond food provision, empowering households through programs and education to combat food insecurity. In the fiscal year 2023, Gleaners distributed over 50 million pounds of food to those in need in our community. Every dollar donated translates to three meals served. DONATE HERE

No Kid Hungry

No Kid Hungry, a national campaign, operates under Share Our Strength, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing hunger and poverty issues in the United States and globally. With 25 years of experience investing in local nonprofits and developing effective solutions to combat poverty and hunger, Share Our Strength introduced No Kid Hungry in 2010 to specifically target childhood hunger.

Companies nationwide are teaming up with No Kid Hungry, contributing a part of their sales to provide essential meals for children, supporting their academic success and overall well-being. You have the opportunity to transform your cherished hobby or individual interest into a fundraiser benefiting hungry kids. Moreover, you can participate in No Kid Hungry events! No Kid Hungry Dinners offer distinctive culinary experiences aimed at raising funds and awareness to combat childhood hunger.

Attending a No Kid Hungry event is on my wishlist for the near future, and my ultimate dream is to volunteer with them. However, in the interim, contributing donations to support their initiatives feels like the next best step toward making a difference. DONATE HERE

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide, and I hope it sparks inspiration for you to contribute in any way possible! If there are specific charities or organizations you're passionate about, please share them in the comments below. I'm eager to learn about them and continue donating throughout the year!

Eat well and be well!

If I knew you were coming I’d have made you a plate!

Ariana :)