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By Dorothy Brotherton
JUST getting together to cook up a storm and to offer a
bit more than a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name – that’s
what the Big Cook is all about.
A few women at Evangel Church in Kelowna were studying
God’s word together and – wouldn’t you know it? –
they were moved to take action. The moms’ Bible study group had gone
through a series on Missional Evangelism, about getting into the community
and expressing God’s love by loving others.
“We began to ask, how can we as a moms’
group, with little time or energy, do something?” said Benita
Crombie. She had come across a book called The
Big Cook by three Alberta women, Joanne
Smith, Lorelei Thomas and Deanna Siemens. The theme of the cook book is to
prepare huge quantities of food once every three months and freeze it in
meal-sized portions, simplifying life for busy families.
Crombie began talking to others in the group about
doing a Big Cook as a community outreach. Crombie and her friends, Carleen
Saubert and Chris Sader planned the first event, organized and shopped,
then called for women in the group to join in a cooking blitz.
About 25 women responded, and in two hours they
produced 120 to 130 meal entrees. All were prepared, some partially cooked,
all contained in freezer packaging in portions of four to six servings. For
example, one meal consisted of cut up chicken with a sauce. Add a simple
salad and you are good to go for dinner, sidestepping the temptation to
grab less nutritional fast food meals.
The meals were stored in an old upright freezer at the
church building that wasn’t being used, with the overflow in freezers
of individuals.
“Then it was up to others in the church to see a
need and take the meals to people in the community. Maybe a neighbour was
going through a sickness or some other hard time,” explained Crombie.
They wanted those directly involved with the people in need to do the
actual delivering because that would be more personal.
With no advertising except word-of-mouth, the meals
were taken one by one and delivered to people in crisis. They went to
families with newborn babies, single moms, people who had lost jobs,
teachers facing illness, people going through chemotherapy, and similar
situations.
“The meals were for any time when people had more
important things to do than make a meal,” said Crombie.
The first Big Cook was held in November and by
mid-February all the meals had been delivered, and a second event being
planned. The first meals were paid for through the church, with a grant
from a program called The Assignment, which is a fund for outreach
projects.
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Crombie said they are enthused about doing another Big
Cook, and plan to advertise this one more broadly through the church. Now
that they see it works, they are happy to have more people get on board.
As for families who received the meals, Crombie said,
“We’ve had nothing but positive feedback. People can’t
believe they are getting the meals.” The experience also built
fellowship among the women, who found a way to put their faith into action.
Sader commented on those who received the meals, “People were very,
very appreciative.”
As for the book’s authors, they happily gave
permission for the use of their recipes. Crombie said, “They just
want to bless others with their book.”
Smith is a registered dietitian, Thomas has a masters
degree in education and Siemens is a nurse. The three have 11 children
between them, which prompted them to find ways to streamline their busy
lives. Cooking together in bulk amounts was a solution that worked.
They’ve been doing it for 10 years. The book “solves the
problem of what’s for dinner,” said Lynn Fraser, a work-life
balance expert from Edmonton.
For the Kelowna women, the book also is solving the
problem of how to get involved in their community.
March 2009
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