Day 23
A few years ago, a neighbor of ours got sick, really sick. Our neighborhood rallied to help provide meals for her family. Early on, the self-appointed-neighbor-in-charge (every street has one), a paragon of efficiency, sent out an email to a group of us with a list of criteria for the meals. Included in the instructions were:
All meals MUST be provided in disposable containers
Make no mistake; this was a directive, not a suggestion. At the time I was a bit put off, primarily because this was just one of a list of about ten “rules” (to include NO PASTA dishes because they had already gotten too many of them) Plus, I figured if her family could get the fork to their mouths, surely they could rinse out a dish. But, I do get, that in times of stress, it is difficult to catalog and return casserole containers. So I complied.
Since then, I have actually followed the disposable container directive as if it is a law. I would hate to have to go to pot luck prison. And now, just a few weeks into The Simple Year, I have had two occasions to take meals to families.
As a result, I have stumbled upon an interesting phenomenon.
$3.49
If your eyes are better than mine, and you squint, you will notice that a disposable aluminum foil dish costs $3.49.
Contrast that with the following
$.99 each at Goodwill
$2.99 WITH a wooden carrier
My personal favorite--$2.00 at a garage sale
It appears, for the sake of convenience, we will pay more for a disposable dish, because we don’t want to “bother” someone who just had a baby or lost a family member. And, I’m not pointing fingers, I’m guilty too, I’ve been doing it for years.
So the last time I made a meal, I put it in some of those dishes you see above and included a note that among other things said,
“…these containers have been repurposed from second hand stores and they are yours to keep, pass along or donate…”
Now, I am a dollar or two ahead, I have reused something and maybe, just maybe, set into motion the “traveling casserole” dish.
Now you’ve mentioned something I can really use. I especially love this idea since I am addicted to second-hand stores anyway. 🙂
Hi Kerry! Samantha’s Mom here….just wanted you to know how much I am enjoying your ‘journey’. You now have a fan base here in AZ, all sharing your adventure. Today’s post will FINALLY get my rear to Goodwill!
I LOVE it!! I have never been required to bring a meal in a disposable dish (if I was, I didn’t know it) and I don’t think I would even if asked. Just get a piece of masking tape, stick it to the bottom of the dish, and write your name on it if you want your dish back. Most people have dish washers these days. I agree that if you can take the time to eat the meal, you can take the time to put the dish in the dishwasher. What are these people doing with the plates they are eating off of? Or are they just eating directly out of the casserole dish!?
Brilliant!
Whoa…We were a family that was gifted with wonderful dinner dishes on the loss of my so-incredible Father-in Law. Mind boggling casserole dish identification / organization along with Thank You’s. How splendid it would have been to have options that didn’t require a data base. I’m signing up for the traveling casserole dishes. Thank you, Kerry, a lot.
Great idea! Thanks 🙂
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“…these containers have been repurposed from second hand stores and they are yours to keep, pass along or donate…”
I am so doing this. What a fantastic idea. I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT… #shame
Yay! I did this last time I made a meal for someone, except I bought a new dish because I didn’t know how she’d feel about second hand. This year, if the occasion arises, I’ll have to buy second hand. And the person receiving it can be bloody grateful. (Even if the plate is chipped and the meal sucks.)
THis is innovative! Very smart! I think that I will be trying to get this to “Catch on”
LOVE this idea!
I’m know I’m almost two years late to this party, but THIS IS EXCELLENT. Will be doing this next time…
I love that idea and plan to use it myself. I made cakes for a breast cancer research fundraiser and wished I had done just that.
It’s going to be a long night catching up.
I look for these things after holidays and try to get prints that are not so holiday specific. For example I bought a bunch of disposable pan with red polka dot on them at an after Christmas sale for %75 off, making them about .25/each! It was fantastic and the food tastes the same 😉