Why Keep a Pantry?

Do you keep a pantry? If so, why?

There are many reasons why it's a good idea to have a well- stocked pantry in your home, even if your favorite grocery store is just up the street, is open all night, and gives you great discounts and perks.

*For one, having what you need on hand saves you a trip to the store,which saves gas, time,and money.
I hate being in the middle of making something ( like chili dogs) and realizing we are out of buns. I have to go to the store and chances are I will end up walking child-less up and down aisles that have nothing to do with buns, and everything to do with magazines and chocolate, and wind up at the check-out with an armload of things I don't need. It's such a relief to know I can walk into my pantry and pull out what I need when I need it. Making a meal plan beforehand helps me to know when I will need what and I can plan my grocery list around what"s available in my pantry and freezer.

*In our church family, someone is always having a baby. We love babies. And we love bringing food to their new families. I can be a blessing to someone else by having ingredients on hand for a good meal or two to give away. The same idea applies to donating to the local food pantry, an unexpected dinner guest, and my mother-in-law asking me to bring a side dish for Sunday lunch at the last minute.

* FEMA recommends a 3-day supply of food for emergencies. The Red Cross recommends a 2-week supply for sheltering in-home.  The weather plays a crucial part in our country's food delivery system. Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and snowstorms can disrupt the chain of delivery with no warning. Most stores recieve daily deliveries and don't keep more than a couple days worth of food in their storage rooms anymore. With an approaching storm, if all your neighbors rush to the store to stock up, it may be hard to get what you need before its gone. Not to mention long lines, crying babies, and grouchy grown-ups.
A slightly different scenario would not be pleasant to think of, but might be just as important. With political, social and economic uncertainty these days, a well-stocked pantry would provide a sense of peace and security if something "man-made" should happen that would disrupt the food supply. Just think about this: if people rush out in a frenzy when they think their guns will disappear, how will they react when they think their food will? I for one, would not want to be out trying to figure out what to feed my family for an extended amount of time in the middle of a national crisis. It would be too unnerving and possibly unsafe. I would much rather have the basic supplies and know-how to get by for awhile during the initial confusion and mayhem, no matter the scale. And remember- the food at the store travels hundreds of miles, even coming in from different countries, so the "man-made" incident wouldn't even have to be local.

*A well-supplied pantry would be helpful in the event of job loss. Being able to provide for your family's needs while figuring out what to do next would be a hedge against the burden of panic and uncertainty.

Not so long ago, families put up food from their gardens and "laid in" supplies for winter, hard times, or just 'in case." Not many people do that now, prefering to shop weekly or daily for what they need. And some take it to the extreme as in the show Doomsday Preppers. A good medium would be to make a list of 2-3 weeks worth of meals your family likes and plan your shopping to stock up on those ingredients. Look for sales and buy a couple extra of boxes of cereal or cans of veggies next time you go out. Before you know it, your shelves will be a little fuller and you'll have a little more peace of mind about providing for your family.