Instead of giving up for Lent I’m gonna give back

The season of Lent in upon us. This time of waiting in the liturgical year is all about preparation in anticipation of Easter. Very often is it also synonymous with sacrifice or "giving up" something. In the past I have given things up that I love, things like sugar, chocolate or Diet Coke, but I don't do that anymore.
A few years ago I heard a sermon that changed my perspective on Lent. It said that rather than focusing on giving something up Lent should be viewed as a call to action, a time to do something to help your fellow man.
There is a popular movement on Facebook called 40 bags in 40 days. It is a Lenten challenge to fill 40 bags of clothing, toys, and household items that are in good condition and donate them to the less fortunate. I think that is a great idea and a couple of years ago my friend and co-worker Lindsey took that idea and ran with. Lindsey started a Lenten food drive to benefit Helping Hands of Jackson County.
Helping Hands was established in 1988 by the Ministerial Alliance to help citizens of Jackson County who have fallen on hard times. They have a food pantry and also have clothing and household items for those in need. I was astonished to learn that in February alone Helping Hands distributed 74 boxes of food that fed 210 people. The need in our community is more real that I ever knew and I am thankful for the chance to help with the food drive this year.
I love food and I love cooking for my family. I cannot imagine the heartache a parent must feel when they look from a bare cupboard into the faces of their children and don't have an answer for the question "Whats for dinner?" There are a lot of hurts in this world that we are powerless to stop, but this is not one! We all have the power to heal the hurt of hunger in our community, and it is an easy fix.
The real estate office where I work, Twin Rivers, located at 105 Ed Linn in Edna is the donation drop off point for this year’s food drive. Lindsey, Shelley and I will be here between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and will be accepting donations through March 31.
HEB has generously donated bags that can be filled with non-perishable food items, but if an extra trip to the grocery store is not on your Easter preparation agenda we are also accepting monetary donations.
Helping Hands has asked that any contributions not beyond the "best if used by" or "expiration date". The most needed types of food to donate are simple, serviceable ingredients that can be the basis for hearty nutritious meals, things like peanut butter, canned meats, beans and pasta.
Hurry Up Chicken Soup is made with canned ingredients like the ones needed by Helping Hands, it is filling, fast and tasty. I hope you will head to the grocery store and buy enough ingredients to make two batches, one for you and one to give to the food drive. You will be glad you did!
Hurry-up Chicken Soup
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 14 oz. cans chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. chili powder
1 (15 ounce) can black beans drained and rinsed
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, un drained
2 (10 ounce) can chunk chicken
Directions
Open the cans of corn, chicken broth, chunk chicken, black beans, and diced tomatoes with green chilies. Drain and rinse the black beans. Pour everything, along with the seasonings, into a large saucepan or stock pot. Simmer over medium heat until chicken is heated through. Garnish with shredded cheese, tortilla chips, sour cream, diced onion and/or chopped avocado.