Add to favorites

When people call me to let me know they are accepting an invitation to dinner at our house, they often follow the “yes, we’d love to come” with “what can we bring?”

Easy question. Often a difficult one to answer.

I have had so many dinner parties over the years that you’d think I would have mastered the answer to this question. Instead, I often stutter. Their offer is generous and appreciated, but I often don’t know what to say. Usually, it’s because I don’t even know what kind of food I’m going to make yet. It’s hard for me to give them direction on something they could make or even what type of wine to bring; red or white.

Thanks to my old buddy in Florida, Jim, I now have a creative solution. Jim and his wife Connie started to tell people not to bring something for the dinner party. They asked guests to bring something to be donated to the local food pantry instead. When they have had a few parties and have enough foodstuffs they take them to the local food pantry. The quick trip to the food pantry happens about once a month. The food pantry benefits and everyone enjoys lovely dinners.

If this idea catches on, food pantries around the country will be thrilled! Talk about a win-win! Try it. I bet your local food pantry would appreciate it too. Plus, you get a nice dinner topped off with a warm feeling.

Cheers,