Plain Talk About Food: Jams and jellies and the human heart

I came across the following sentence in a magazine a few years ago in my doctor’s office: “Never stop doing things for others,” I read; “sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their human hearts.”
I ripped that sentence from the magazine and put it in my purse.
My confession is due here. I am one of those people who, finding a recipe in a magazine, looks around to see if anyone is watching, tears it out and tucks it in her purse.
And there have been too many times to count that my hubby finds himself staring through a hole in his newspaper while shouting at me that I could at least wait until he’s finished reading it before I begin ripping and shredding.
I carried that torn-out piece of magazine for a very long time, scotch-taped inside my wallet where I would see it often, until it simply disappeared. The words however, have not been forgotten.
Last Christmas, I wanted to experience the generosity of the people in our valley directly, and experience it I did! I rang the red kettle bell in front of Felton’s Safeway, filling in for Chris Morrow who has rung that bell for 25 years.
It was the “little things” I remember about that day; the woman who put money in the kettle and then came back with hand-warmers for me; Adrien Fhurman who, after putting money in the kettle, returned home and baked cookies for me.
The man who saluted and sang to me and 12-year old Kade Pittler, who shared half of his birthday money for the kettle. These were the little things that have remained with me, filling my human heart.
A few weeks later, I felt an urge to reclaim that wonderful feeling you have when you do something good for someone in need, and soon found myself volunteering at Valley Churches United Missions in Ben Lomond.
Because of this, my life will never be the same.
In the beginning, I was given instructions on how to “bag” groceries, working with a group of women and men in an area we call the Food Pantry. These people are constantly moving, filling bags with food from shelves and refrigerators. Meanwhile, boxes of food are coming in and shelves are being restocked.
No one who needs food is turned away. If other help is needed other than what we can provide, we steer them in the direction of an agency that can assist in solving their problem.
Hard work, laughter and love abound here, filling each and every human heart.
I soon found that I wanted to work more directly with the people that come through our doors, who, for various reasons, need our help.
Their reasons vary, from having lost their job through no fault of their own, struggling to make their house payment, or a catastrophic illness.
For many, the family breadwinner may have died or left the home. Many with children are living in their cars, hoping to replace that job they have lost or their apartment they can no longer afford. Some are mentally ill, rendering them incapable of working.
And for most, someone to listen to their story without judging them is needed; sympathy and understanding and a simple “hug” is needed, helping to fill their human hearts.
Thursday, Dec. 4, the Valley Churches United Missions “Gala” was held, a dinner and auction where certain volunteers were honored for their exemplary service.
You know how these events are run — volunteers asking for donations from our local merchants and dedicated donors. Then setting up those donated items to be bid on later, bringing in those “oh-so-needed monies” to be spent filling our pantry shelves with food for our “clients.”
One beautifully wrapped basket in the auction contained homemade jams and jellies among other edible delights.
This amazing basket was the work of Jeri Oneto, a Boulder Creek resident who spends many hours of her time making jams and jellies and cookies, donating them to fundraising events such as ours, which in turn makes it possible to bring joy to all of those human hearts.
Jeri has graciously shared with us one of her favorite recipes for a quick and easy Christmas Marmalade.
My wish for this holiday season is that each of you dear readers will fill at least one human heart; you will feel good that you did.
Jeri Oneto’s Christmas Marmalade:
4 Oranges
1 Lemon
1 Lime
1 large cored Pineapple
Pulse in food processor to a marmalade consistency.
Add: 5 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup diced Maraschino Cherries
In a heavy bottomed pan, bring the ingredients to a boil.
Then, reducing heat, simmer 30 minutes.
Pour into sterilized jars and cover with boiling water and gently boil 5 minutes.
Delicious with Scones!