Traci Anello

The Power in Food

Category Archives: Food insecurity


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A lunch lady tribute

The hair net, the orthopedic shoes and that laced collar and iconic cat eye glasses describe the real unsung heroes of the school cafeteria back in the day (and maybe still today). It’s the lunch ladies. The hard working early morning starting cooks that served the perfect shape of mashed potatoes and that square pizza on Fridays.

Our lunch ladies at Goodyear Elementary School always kept the kids in line and the line moving like a well choreographed dance. Even the teachers wanted to know how they did it. Whether you wanted to peas or not you got them and fought back the urge to say “no thank you”. They had no time to waste. They had a lot of kids to feed, a kitchen to clean and orders to be placed before the end of the day so that they could do it all over again the next day.

Growing up experiencing food insecurity is rough. Sitting next to a friend with a fresh sandwich, a bag of chips and cookies their mom made was hard to watch. You try to act like it’s no big deal. You weren’t hungry anyway was the only way to fight back the tears. Some days you had that bologna and cheese sandwich and once you pulled the bologna out, it didn’t look so bad. But smelling the fresh turkey and cheese sandwich next to you made your stomach tighten. Sometimes you sat next to someone that was kind enough to offer you a cookie or some chips but it wasn’t often. It felt good to be offered and feel grateful.

By the time fifth grade came around, you could sign up to volunteer in the kitchen and work with the lunch ladies if you dared. They didn’t scare me. Probably because I never got to stand in that line. Students feared them because they didn’t have time for games and let you know. They were pretty bad ass actually. They needed the help and it was a great learning opportunity for anyone that had the guts to sign up. The only thing was you could only do it once a week but once a week meant a free lunch and that was the best part…I thought. Everyone wanted Friday because it was pizza day. I didn’t care and took whatever they gave me.

I remember my first day, they brought me over to the dish machine to rinse off the stacked dishes and trays. I was too young to operate that huge machine but I could fill the dish racks and rinse all of the dishes. I remember looking at that dish machine and thinking we could use this at home with 10 people living there. The spray hose was the best part of that job. It rinsed dished off like magic.

As time went on, I showed an interest in the food prep by being really nosey. Little by little they would give me small job like lining cookies on cookie sheets or putting cheese on the cheeseburgers. Quickly I became quite the prep assistant and the cranky lunch lady became my friend. Want to know how I knew? She signed me up for Fridays so that I could have pizza. Not only did I have the pizza but I prepared it. She stood side by side and explained how she wanted it done. I clung on every word. Someone cared. That’s all I could think of. I wasn’t excited about eating lunch. I was excited about standing with her and learning something new. She made me feel like I belonged in the kitchen. She gave me hope and was my beacon of inspiration. How could I get one of those sweet dresses she was wearing with the laced collar? I had the hairnet and it was cooler than any hat my brothers were wearing. It was my superpower. Every day as students lined up for lunch with sweat starting to form as they had to face the lunch ladies, I would walk by the kitchen and call the women by name and say hi and wave. Classmates would look at me like I was in some private club. How did I do that?? How was I able to smile and say hello like we just finished eating a big meal together. That hair net hat I wore gave me the power to feel confident. That hope and inspiration they gave me was exactly what I needed to fight off the hunger and the feeling that I didn’t belong. All they did was take an interest and teach and treat me like part of their kitchen. It felt great. I don’t know how they did it but they got me signed in an extra day every week. That’s two meals I would get. Suddenly though it wasn’t about the food. It was about the caring, the teaching and feeling like a part of a team.

It made me think of my career as a culinary instructor. Looking at photos, I’m standing right next to my students just like she did with me. I knew who needed a little help with food. I could see which students looked forward to eating what we made that day. I always made sure these students had food to take home. They didn’t know that I knew but you never forget that feeling. Even when there’s plenty of food, in your mind, you still think about where the next meal will come from. Teaching students how to cook was my way of making sure they had food.

Food insecurity is awful. When you are hungry, it’s not just a growling stomach. It’s painful. It’s painful physically and mentally. It makes you go in the bathroom and cry. Snack time was another reminder that you were going without unless the teacher decided to bring in something to share. Children that come to school hungry can’t concentrate on school work. They’re too busy trying to keep their stomachs quiet so the other kids stop laughing. They’re tired because they couldn’t sleep the night before because they went to bed hungry. It hurts in so many ways.

Thankfully today there are programs that offer breakfast and lunch at no charge to the students. There are places like in Kennebunk, Maine where a student can go to The Little Pantry outside of The Chamber of Commerce and help themselves to food in a cabinet on the porch whether it’s snacks or food to bring home to their siblings.

The Community Gourmet in Kennebunk started a Mission for Nutrition program and delivers care packages to students. These packages have small meals like macaroni and cheese cups, Chef Boyrdee meals, cereal, oatmeal, breakfast bars, juice boxes and snacks like chips and cookies to name a few. They’re in a reusable grocery bag folded over to look like a bag with sneakers or a book inside so no one makes fun of them or they don’t stand out as the kid with no food at home. These go to students who are currently unhoused or experiencing food insecurity at home. We put enough items inside for them to share with siblings. We try to set these up so that they have them for the weekend. This program is so important to me. I don’t want any child to have to worry about their next meal. When you share food items you share support. Hopefully they can find hope and know that we do care. I want them to know they are supported. The school does a great job making sure these students have food. We have an amazing community. They are always ready to help when asked for food drives and donations. It does take a village and our community steps up every time. The support they give is above and beyond and we are grateful for that because every donation means another child gets to have a meal.

I think about those lunch ladies all the time. I think about where I came from and if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t know what hope felt like. They cared. They showed up. They were teachers themselves. I was one of many students that had the opportunity to learn from them. I was one of many that got to have a full meal because of them. I was one of many that started to get better grades and looked forward to going to school especially on the days I was a big helper in the kitchen. Every good cook starts in the dish area. I’m proud to say I am a member of that club.I took those skills and used them. I still use them. I’m grateful for those women. They taught me a valuable lesson about caring. They also taught me how to wear a hair net and an apron perfectly because they took the time to show me. My other died when I was four. There was no mother figure. These women somehow knew it and showed me things that really made me feel supported.

This story is dedicated to the two women that cared and showed me that I was a special person. They showed appreciation and love for the food they served. They were very proud of the work they did and I was proud to be a part of that. And suddenly classmates stopped picking on me because they knew they had to face those lunch ladies every day and those women were my friends.

I was a member of a very elite club…The Lunch Lady Club.

If you’d like to learn more about The Community Gourmet and how you can help a student facing food insecurity, please visit our website and see the work they do in their Mission for Nutrition program: http://www.thecommunitygourmet.org


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The Community Gourmet Holiday Recipe 2024

Thank you for purchasing our holiday wooden spoon at our friend, Melanie’s, amazing shop, Dragon Star in Kennebunk, Maine.

I was trying to think of a really special recipe to share to show you our appreciation for your support. Each spoon raised enough money to feed two older adults for a full week with small meals and snacks.

I reached into my archive and found a recipe so special, it’s perfect to share.

Traditional Gingersnaps Makes 24 small cookies

Directions:

  1. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy
  2. Add the egg and mix until well combined. I use a whisk
  3. Add the lolasses and whisk together.
  4. Combine all of the dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk together
  5. Add to the wet mixture and stir with a spoon until you can no longer see the dry mixture.
  6. Roll into 24 small balls and freeze for 1 hour.
  7. Preheat your over to 350*
  8. Place the second 1 Cup of sugar in a gallon freezer bag.
  9. Add a few of the frozen dough balls and coat with the sugar.
  10. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
  11. Bake about 15 minutes or until the center of the cookie does not look wet.
  12. Let the cookies cool completely and package for gifts.

This a favorite cookie for so many people. You can also make 12 larger cookies with this recipe by dividing th dough into 12 balls. I use a purple handle ice cream scoop for the small cookies and a yellow handled ice cream scoop for the larger ones. You can find these ice cream scoops in kitchen stores and online. The colors are universal.

These also freeze very well before baking. Just be sure not to roll them in sugar until you’re redy to use them. The baked gingersnaps also freeze well after baking if there around long enough. You can use these for ice cream sandwiches too. Find a nice cinnamon or ginger ice cream for the middle.

If you like this recipe, sit tight. We will be sharing many more. The recipe vault is full! We will also be making a video soon on a step by step of these gingersnaps and many other cookies.

Thank you again for supporting The Community Gourmet by purchasing one of our beautiful wooden spoons. You can learn more about including how you can make a donation to help to create more Care packages for one of our many programs at our website: http://www.thecommunitygourmet.org

Thank you!


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The Care Package

Our elder community is our richest resource when it comes to life. Their stories and experiences teach us if we are willing to listen.

When I started The Community Gourmet, the primary focus was teaching people at food pantries how to cook using basic staples items. We create three recipes for each type of recipe kit we donate to food pantries and churches. Teaching people how to stretch their staple items and make them three different ways became a success. The feedback we got was positive and enriching. The more people we taught, the more kits we created. To date we have donated over 1600 Recipe Kits.

Our Care Package

In the Fall of 2022, I had the opportunity to meet our local police officer who created a very successful elder abuse task force. What she does to help and protect seniors in our county is just beautiful work. We talked about seniors and the the foods they had (or didn’t have) in their homes. The stories were heartbreaking. Having a father that’s 92 made it hit home even more. We talked about what type of foods they could benefit from. The one thing she said was to try to have it so they don’t need to cook on the stove. It’s a safety concern. The time this woman spent talking about her mission was so important. I was appreciative to have the opportunity to learn as much as I could.

When I went home that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about what she said. The fact that seniors have to choose between heating and eating kept me up. I wanted to create a kit just for them. It would need to be something that could supplement Meals on Wheels. It had to be something no one would ever have to qualify for. You can never be told no. You never have to fill out an application. These are available for whoever needs them. This wonderful program brings one meal a day to the seniors. We wanted to offer small meals like soup, tuna fish with crackers, oatmeal, Macaroni and cheese cups (easy to prepare in the microwave), protein bars and so on. With my background in the food industry I had worked in hospitals and hospice. I remember the small individual items we would have for the patients. I spoke with our dietician at our local hospital and she was a wealth of knowledge. Applesauce helps to swallow pills. Carnation instant breakfast is an easy meal when someone has low energy and doesn’t want to cook. Individual peanutbutter and jellies so everything is portioned. We also add crackers for the soup, cereal for breakfast along with oatmeal packets, canned chicken, pre made meals like beef stew or chicken a la king. With. a little more funding, we will add more protein items as we grow. These are all contained in a reusable shopping bag. I had a good idea what I wanted to put in these kits which are now called “The Care Package”. More about the name later.

The Care Package wasn’t complete. It needed more than just small meals. It need nostalgia and memories. It needed Fig Newtons, Lorna Dunes, ‘Nilla Wafers and shortbreads. Was this a healthy option? Not exactly. Well, maybe mentally it was. This gave some one the opportunity to have a cup of tea (also included) and a cookie that brings back memories of growing up. This is a moment to sit and enjoy something nice. These are items they wouldn’t buy for themselves so they could save their money to pay the electric or heating bill. We add these items because we care. We also add a blank greeting card with photos I’ve taken over the years. Maybe while enjoying that cookie, they can write a card to someone.

I reached out to to our local agency on aging and was gifted one of the nicest people I’d ever met. She was interested in our Care packages and immediately I made samples and delivered them. Our foundation was fortunate to be able to speak st the elder abuse conference. This gave us the chance to explain who we are and what we do. We got so many messages about the Care Package and agencies that wanted to try them. We delivered to police stations, General Assistance programs, churches, senior centers and of course pantries. We also make these for disaster situations. We sent 20 care packages to Fort Lauderdale to help people who suffered through the hurricane. We’ve made over 50 for asylum seekers who needed some food while they lived in a hotel. These packages can be made for any situation. To date we have donated over 600 of the packages. These are at no cost to the people that receive them.

Why do we do it? Because we care. We are a community that cares about the people in it and surrounding it. Because people need to know you care and you’re here to support them. This is where the name came from. We do it because it’s the right thing to do. You should never have to worry about where your next meal is coming from.

It’s our mission to teach, care and nourish the people of our communities. We love to do it. We have wonderful volunteers. We have a very talented Board of directors that we are blessed with.

I’m happy to come to your town and show you how you can start making meal kits like these. I can show you how to source the foods and the containers they come in. I can show you how it can be educational, heartwarming and even fun to create these kits and packages for our richest resource, our seniors.

You can contact us through our website: http://www.thecommunitygourmet.org

You can also write to us: thecommunitygourmet@gmail.com

If you would like to make a donation, we have several options including our Amazon Wish list. This can all be found on our website.

Check on your neighbors often. Listen to what they have to say. Learn a lifetime of valuable lessons.


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Food insecurity and how we are helping

It’s the day before Thanksgiving and I’ve been invited to my sister Kim’s home in New Jersey.

I love visiting her because coffee is always served outside on her porch overlooking her beautiful gardens. We catch up on our families and then we plan our meals based on what is ready in her garden. The herbs are always plentiful and as we reach the end of the season, her root vegetables will play a big part in our menu. Kim loves to entertain and shares with me that she will be hosting a brunch before Thanksgiving. I love this! Cooking food for friends, especially new people is always a community experience.

After coffee I explore her refrigerator to work on a brunch menu. I see that she has a meal kit from Blue Apron. I take the box out and unload its contents to see what I’ll have to work with. This kit is wonderful! Everything you need to make a dinner is in there. This kit is a great way to teach someone how to cook basic sauces, proteins and vegetables. Immediately the menu comes together. We make mini quiche, garden fritattas, roasted potatoes with fresh herbs, roasted root vegetables with fresh thyme and crushed garlic, curried chickpea salad served with homemade crackers, homemade muffins bursting with Maine blueberries and a hint of lemon zest, fresh fruit with Kim’s garden mint and a host of fresh juices and coffees.

Pasta Kit

As I was preparing the dishes, I thought “Why can’t everyone have access to meal kits like this”. These kits are a great way to teach basic cooking skills. Since COVID19, it’s been almost impossible to arrange cooking classes so I thought maybe we can create meal kits like these for everyone to teach them in their homes. My main focus was people who are experiencing food insecurity. I have volunteered at food pantries and local farmers and grocery stores donate pounds of fresh produce. But watching people walk past the produce table was upsetting for me. The food they are given is great. Don’t get me wrong. But to walk past the produce table and lose the opportunity to add nutritional value to their meals was something I couldn’t ignore. Through no fault of their own, food insecurity is generally passed down. If you’re not taught how to cook basic meals, you can’t teach your children how to cook them either. The pantries do an amazing job of sourcing the staple pantry items. Volunteers work tirelessly to make sure everyone that is present gets as much as they can give. It’s a beautiful program. The teaching piece is missing. Not because they won’t offer it but because they have so much to do in a day to coordinate these bags of food. This where we come in.

We are The Community Gourmet. We are based out of Kennebunk, Maine.My name is Traci Anello and I’m the Founder. I went out and bought basic staple food pantry items and lined them on my counter. I made a menu based on what I had available and what I knew the pantries could offer. The first kit I made was the Pasta Kit. It contained two ponds of pasta, a 20oz can of tomato sauce, an 8oz container of parmesan cheese, a 10oz container of mayonnaise, three recipes, a handcrafted greeting card using the photos I’ve taken at farmers markets, a self stamped survey post card (a way for recipients to be heard) and eventually we started to add essential kitchen equipment like measuring cups, spoons, calendars, cutting boards, pot holders, ladels, etc.. It’s important that if we supply the recipes, we also provide the basic equipment to follow the recipes. Our three recipes show how to use a staple like pasta three different ways. For our pasta kit, our recipes are Pasta with Meatballs, Pasta Primavera and Pasta salad. It shows the versatility of pasta used both hot and cold and a great way to get those nutritious vegetables in there.

I decided to give this a go. As a chef, I knew I could tap into my resources and get some of the foods from restaurants ordered and donated. Most of the food we bought through our fundraiser accepting donations from our homemade Raspberry linzer cookies. We packaged them by the dozen and asked for a suggested donation of $15.00. We had no idea how popular these would be. We go on to make over 100 dozen through the summer during various fundraisers. The local Chamber of Commerce (Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel) has been wonderful and very supportive. We have our cookie fundraisers there and could not be more thrilled at all of the people we get to meet who support our mission. Our mission which is: Teaching, Caring and Nourishing. Our kits are at no cost to the people who receive them. As a matter of fact, we concentrate on the people who don’t qualify for government assistance. The thought of asking for help and being told that they do not qualify breaks my heart. We have decided to have our kits available to everyone. There are no questions asked. If yo need help and reach out, we will direct you to where you can pick up a kit.

Our first pantry was The Little Pantry in Kennebunk at the Chamber of Commerce. t’s a 24/7 emergency pantry and they do a tremendous job working with the community to keep it stocked. Laura Dolce, the director, has such a big heart. She’s been very supportive along with her team at the Chamber. The Chamber is a valuable resource and we appreciate everything they do for the communities. Kennebunk is a giving community. The residents do not hesitate to step up and support their neighbors. Other places we supply kits to is the York County Shelter Pantry in Alfred, Maine. This is our largest pantry and covers many towns. They do over 300 people a week here. Mike Oulette is the pantry manager and along with Jim, his assistant, and their volunteers, they run a tight ship and supply many people with the necessary foods and even food for their pets! Saint Mary’s church in Wells, Maine is also a wonderful supporter of ours. Paul Goyette and his volunteers welcome our kits and pass them out to the people who come to their weekly food pantry. I love their set up. Paul is a wonderful resource of information for us as well. Our newest pantry is a self made pantry by a mom who wanted to help her community. Big Love One Community in North Berwick, Maine is so cute! Sara Dutch along with her husband built a pantry on a trailer. The inside looks like a grocery store. It’s painted with bright cheerful colors and it gives you the privacy to shop and maintain your dignity. She has a flower plant hanging outside and a big heart on the side of her building. I absolutely love what she does! We have additional pantries that we would like to supply but we are in need of a larger space. We have outgrown our current location and are in search for a larger space about 500 sqft. Once we accomplish that, we can accommodate more pantries.

Our focus right now is to have kits made available to senior citizens as well as the pantries. we are in the process of creating a kit that provides seniors with meals. Recently I was told that Meals on Wheels which is a wonderful program can not accommodate all of the seniors who request their meals. Again, the “do not qualify”. That’s the worst answer anyone can hear. we understand resources are tight. That’s why we would like to pick up that burden if we can. We would like to have these kits available at the agencies that seniors have to visit so they have something to walk out with that will provide meals for them for a period of time. These seniors have been a valuable resource for younger people not to mention the programs they have probably been a part of and the taxes that they have paid into all of these years. It’s time to give back.

We are still new to the game. Our first kits rolled out in March of 2022. To date we have made over 6000 kits and packages. Ofcourse we sent out sample kits earlier but officially our first kits went to the Little Pantry in Kennebunk in March. Food insecurity is everywhere. We would like to be everywhere. Right now we are in York County Maine with a vision to supply every county in Maine eventually. From there, regional, national and so on. If we can teach people the basic cooking skills using pantry items and produce from our farmers, we on track to putiing a dent in food insecurity. “Give a man to fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime”.

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Visit our website: http://www.thecommunitygourmet.org