At the beginning of the season in the Orchard at Amma Canada Ashram we had secretly made a vow within to Amma to help us find ways to save as many apples from the compost as we could.
We sold some, we even sold some seconds, we found local food banks and food pantries that could use the apples. For the apples that couldn’t be sold, we found a farmer and donated them which were fed to her animals.
We wanted to cook up something with the last bunch of apples for the seniors in nursing homes but our dilemma was to find a certified kitchen to use. We switch gears and decided to make apple crisps for a near by Food Pantry. With plans in place to make it at our house, our CSA farmer, a friend and her daughter ready to take on the challenge with us we prepared all the ingredients including saving 100 lbs. of apples that were seconds and would have ended up in the compost from Amma Canada’s Orchard. The Saturday before we’re ready to begin we get a message from the Food Pantry inquiring if they mentioned that the crisps had to be made in a certified kitchen. Errrr … Plan B …
The night before this we had received news that our Friend/Brother Jai from the Ashram lost his daughter tragically. We had just finished releasing this year series of Christmas cards and with every series we find a way of giving back to the community. After a week of deep sadness we decided to switch our focus and knew we wanted to do something for the less fortunate in memory of Jai’s daughter. As it always is with Amma when we are determined and clear in our hearts, she finds the way.
At our Art class on Monday we mentioned to Elaine our desire and our dilemma. We had everything except for a certified kitchen to work in. Elaine had an idea of how she could help. Within hours of making calls, we were well on our way to fulfilling our dream that Wednesday.
Together with three other Special Friends who are part of the Dream Kitchen run by the Optimist club and Chef Brandon Bousfield at Country Heritage Park in Milton we had the use of a certified kitchen and 3 “chef in training” helpers. We made 33 apple crisps; one for every year of Jai’s beautiful daughter Natasha’s life and offered them to “Food for Life” in Milton. The eagerness of these adults to help was heartwarming. They never tired, they never complained. They helped each other, they were kind to each other and most importantly they got the job done. Magoo even came home with more energy and as a thank you to all his helpers he made individual apple crisps, thank you notes and delivered them the next day for each of them to enjoy.
This is how community works … from every single one of you that has purchased Magoo’s cards through him or at FoodStuffs, friends that came together to help, people that lent their resources we can all work together to make this world a better place. Let us make the effort to come together and help each other more so that everyone has what they need at least for one day.
Wishing you all warm hearts this holiday and that you all find ways to help the less fortunate, pay it forward so that we all may come closer, not divided. Hug more often and tell people they are Love. Onward to 2025, let’s find ways to come together and do good.
Merry Christmas Everyone,
Love and Gratitude,
Magoo and Mom
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