Hurrican Food

Iris,
While not on St. Croix, I do have some experience in this area. Send her canned goods - veggies, canned meats, etc. - but also include some "junk" food! We always pack a treat for ourselves. Something we normally wouldn't buy for everyday consumption. This year we added some canned escargot to our package for that candle lit dinner elegance. Peanut butter and jelly is always good. I will bring in a good bok to work tomorrow and put out some recipes that are really easy on the camper stove. Have a great one for bread! Please send your friend our very best wishes!
Pamela.

I agree -- canned good are important. We stock up on soups (not condensed -- water is too precious and noncondensed are better anyway) -- easy to heat right in the can on the camp stove if need be. (It might be a good idea to include a manual can opener, too. You'd be surprised at how many people don't think of that as a necessity.)

The key is to concentrate on buying things that don't need refrigeration and come in individally packaged servings since it's very hard to deal with leftovers. Look at things like the Dole individually packed fruit bowls, snack pack puddings, breakfast bars, snack cheese strips, starkist even has a tuna salad and crackers lunch pack. Basically anything intended to go in a lunch box is perfect. This is so much easier today -- with people working all the time, manufacturers are creating a lot more fully prepared, single serving foods meant to be eaten on the go.

Other thoughts - send lots of WET WIPES. The 40 count anitbacterial generic types that come in the pop-up dispensers are only about $1.60 each at KMart. They can be a lifesaver that helps keep you cool and help you feel cleaner when showering and bathing can't be on demand events. You'd be amazed at how refreshing running one of those over your face and across hte back of your neck can be.

Also, paper plates, platic silverware, napkins and paper towels so they don't have to eat right out of the can and aren't able to do dishes.

I'm sure others will have many more options for you too. What a terfific friend you are, Iris -- blessings to them and to you for the good things you're doing.

HC

I agree with HipCrip. Send cans of tuna fish and chicken. The only thing I would add to that package is a pair of work gloves, Iodine or rubbing alcohol and maybe some bandages. If they are doing work around the house cleaning up cuts happen and with no running water around they might get infection. Batteries and a flashlight might be nice as well.

Make sure you can send the gas canisters in the mail for the camper stove.

My heart goes out to your friends and everyone else that is trying to piece their lives back together.

Thanks, I will go out and shop. She told me she can get the gas. I figured I would not be able to send that to her. Just other items which are normally in stores are out. The workgloves are a great addition and i agree many people don't have the basic can opener anymore. I will send all your wishes.

Iris

Iris: Our family sent packages of freeze-dried back packing/camping food after Marilyn. They were great! Of course we were starving at the end of each day! They are light weight for shipping and keep very well. One of the best presents we received was a 12 volt boat fan that we attached to a battery, but we had access to a battery charger. Hey, if they have a fridge, they are golden!!

Iris,
Our first meal after Jeanne visited STX was tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. We cooked it on our propane camp stove. Send any type of comfort food. Also try to find a humerous book, cartoon or anything that can help them smile. I really feel for the folks in Florida.

Ric

Great Idea I was going to send them a grilling book as she told me neither know to use a grill lol. She cracks me up. She has a chef as a friend and surprises me often on what she can and can not do. One time she asked for a quick and dirty side dish. I recommended one of those ready spiced rice mix. It never accured to me she would put the whole back in the water rather then reading the instruction and pooring the content in the water lol. It told me a very good lesson how to teach people cooking and how to instruct them.

Iris

Well I am back from shopping. I was surprised how much you can buy now and does not need refriguration. I was able to get chicken and tuna in the pouches. They are lighter than cans to ship. Also less bulky. It did not hurt that they where on sale lol. So now I am stocked with soup, meat, promalate milk, some junk food, a grilling cookbook , a joke book and can opener. I have the rest here at home. Let's hope the box will not be too heavy.

Thanks for all the great tips. When we move to STX I think I make myself a kit like I prepared for my friend.

Iris,
Most folks here have a box like that. We keep all our hurricane supplies together in a big plastic box. We get to use most of them when the electricity goes off (which it does with some frequency).

Ric