Baby Shower Treats

So, Mad and Jen are having a baby shower. I was, you know, stalling a bit. Not sure what to offer. My kids are little. It's hard to know what to offer besides my words and how I feel about things, but I wanted to bring just a little nibble for the baby named Volunteerism.

In 18 months, we are making a move to a new state and city to do something quite different with our days and nights - it will be likely biting of more than we can chew and we won't be going alone, but I'm not blogging about that tonight. I was thinking of what I need to be doing now, in the 18 months intervening. What can be done here in affluent suburbia - my kids are small, my time is short, adding drive time to any effort will only make it less likely to be accomplished. I've struggled here, struggled to identify what the needs are, and who exactly it is who is needing. Sometimes, I don't see the trees for the forest, if you know what I mean. I'm always looking at systems and structures.

Sunday's church bulletin sent me a brain wave. Our deacons are looking for people to cook. Whether someone is housebound and alone, or recently ill, or welcoming a new baby, or saying good-bye to a loved one, our church is looking for cooks who will make a meal in times of need. They are also looking for just about anyone who'd be willing to look in at the shack on our property where people leave donations of clothing and children's toys. I've seen it. It's rather dimly lit and there are just piles of clothes and stuff here, there and everywhere- the remnants of people's wardrobes, things that don't fit anymore or won't fit again - things slightly to entirely out of fashion. I don't know who comes here. I don't know if it helps anyone, but it could be nicer. It could be cleaner, tidier, easier to find what ones needs. I will hardly have time to make a dent there. It requires some man power and a team, but I can fold clothes. I can sort - I can ruthlessly trash things that aren't worth saving, because whoever is "shopping" at this free store doesn't need things that are stained. If they have transportation to this shack on a big old piece of land by our church, that means they are trying to get by in this affluent suburban place. That means they want their kids in clean clothes at school, just like I do. My oxi-clean and I will do our best.
I am going to call our deacon and tell her, just yes. I'm not going to wait for her to call and ask;j ust yes. I can cook for whoever appears on that list - however they get on that list won't matter to me; whether they appear just once or many times this year, they will get home-cooked goodness from my kitchen. And, I will help keep house in our run down shack. I'll bring my husband to reach to its ceiling - he may be too tall to stand up through its low door - and put a higher watt (energy efficient!) light-bulb to brighten things up. Perhaps the trip to that little shack can be made a little easier for whoever is looking. Perhaps they can find something warm, or something that fits or even something lovely in all those piles.

Happiest of baby showers, Mad and Jen. Thank you for inviting us to your party.

ps, I don't mean to make anyone feel badly, but those are pinwheel cookies and they are chocolatey-walnuty and delicious.