August was heating up and our donations were all going to other organizations to allow Carol to take a much needed break. Then I got a call…
Hoover’s Cooking in East Austin has food and is closing their retail operation, focusing on catering only, and can you pick up food from him, like now? Of course! The variety has been amazing. BBQ wings, chops, chicken & dumplings, greens, meatloaf, garlicky potatoes and desserts–so many desserts. More than that is a fantastic giving man who has been so wonderful to work with. He was worried the volunteers would go without desserts so he sent trays of cheesecakes specifically for the volunteers (in addition to the ones for the pantry clients.)
PEJ Events catering and their Round Rock and Parmer Lane Pok-e-Jo’s stores have been supplying us with meats–sirloin, turkey breast, sausage and BBQ chicken; big pans of mac & cheese, jalapeño cornbread, potato dishes, beans, desserts, and more in addition to BBQ plates each week. They have been fantastic to work with and continue to support us, feeding hungry clients and keeping their food out of landfills.
Lastly, every other Friday, I pick up a green bag full of all kinds of meat items from the McDonald’s located in the Walmart at Parmer at IH-35. The kids are especially fond of the chicken nuggets. Getting chicken and fish patties, chicken fingers, and bacon has been a help too. Occasionally, we have even gotten potato patties and fruit pies.
These three organizations and a lot of neighborhood donations sustained us through the month. We were able to use previously-donated $$ to grocery shop and fill in the other items we needed to be sure our clients had enough selections.
Thanks to our many donors: Sprouts, Target, Spec’s, Costco, Pizza Hut, Love Serve Feed, Central Texas Food Bank, Lone Star Family Market, McDonald’s, Cook Unity, Canteen, PEJ Events, Pok-e-Jo’s, Hoover’s Cooking and all the people in the community who support us with donations of food and $$.
We like to say that Carol’s Kindness is Oh So Kind. We hear this a lot.
Until next week we are putting the little truck to rest.