Feeding Flood Victims & Volunteers {Easy Recipes & Helpful Tips}

Whether it’s getting our hands dirty and demoing houses or doing loads of laundry to help salvage clothes, we can all help folks devastated by Harvey in some way. As a mom of two young children, I don’t always have the ability to get out and volunteer in the ways I would have before children. Instead, I have found that the best way I can lend support is through providing meals. In the last week, I have fed first responders, Red Cross volunteers, and friends and neighbors working in flooded houses.  If you are looking to serve the community with the gift of food, here are a few homemade ideas that are easy to mass produce. And don’t forget… When making your plan, think about preparing foods that are easy to serve and don’t require heating, since many are without functioning kitchens!

RECIPE IDEAS ::

Barbeque & Sides

Hawaiian Slider Rolls
{You can bake and then wrap in foil so they stay warm; I usually forgo the poppy seeds!}

Pigs in a Blanket

Pepperoni Roll Ups

Sausage Cheese Balls

Pizza Sticks
{Wrap these in foil or place in a hot/cold bag.}

Parmesan Chex Mix

Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies
{Secret Tip :: Bake 10 minutes for a soft & chewy cookie.}

Granola Bites

Snickerdoodle Blondies
{Great for breakfast or snacking throughout the day.}

Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

HELPFUL HINTS ::

Before you head out to start delivering the food, here’s a few things to keep in mind too…

• Portion out cookies and snacks into individual servings.  This will make grab and go eating a bit easier, and it will also ensure dirty hands aren’t touching all the food.
• Speaking of which… Throw in a bottle of hand sanitizer with your delivery.  They might not have access to running water, so this will allow everyone to do a quick clean before diving in.
• Label homemade food so that folks don’t have to guess what the item is.  Be sure to include any allergen information as well.
• Don’t forget drinks!  Chances are they have a lot of water, so consider picking up a gallon of lemonade or tea to go with the meal.
• Include paper goods and any necessary utensils in your delivery. And bring along a trash bag for disposing of the trash too!
• Last, but certainly not least, get your kiddos involved.  This is such a powerful time to teach our youngest Houstonians about giving back, helping our neighbors, and uniting as a community.

We are sending our thoughts and prayers to all of our Houston family affected by Harvey. Aside from cooking, here are some other ways you can help during this time as well.