Thursday, November 13, 2008

Weekly Food Storage Plan

Here is an idea to help build your food storage week-by-week:

12th Ward's "Stow it Away Plan" or "Fun Food Storage"
Time waits for no man (or woman).
"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing. ..." D&C 88:119

THE INVITATION
You are offered this invitation to participate in THE PROGRAM by following THE PLAN. We have prepared this gift to you to encourage food storage in your own home. This program includes all the basics except wheat, plus many other items which will be beneficial for your family in times of need.

We encourage you to accept this invitation with enthusiasm. Talk to your family members about it. Get them involved.

Purchase your items, date them, store them wisely, rotate them and replenish the supply. At the end of the year you will have made great progress on this important program.

With great love for you and your constant efforts. 12th Ward Relief society Presidency

THE PROGRAM
"From Brigham Young's time to the present day, latter-day prophets have counseled Church members to store food for times of need. Recently, the First Presidency spoke again on the subject. We encourage you to follow this counsel with the assurance that a people prepared through obedience to the commandments of God need not fear." (Letter to priesthood leaders, 24 June, 1988). "A year's supply of good storage is beneficial in several ways:
1) It provides peace of mind as we obey the counsel to store.
2) It helps ensure survival in case of personal or natural disaster.
3) It strengthens skills in preparing and using basic foods."
(Ensign, June 1989, page 40, "Home Storage - Build on the Basics")

THE PLAN
1. Each week, tear off one coupon and add it to your regular grocery list.
2. Get a marker for marking the dates on items to aid in rotation.
3. Buy the largest amount you can sensibly afford. It is better to buy a little and get started with your food storage program than to go in debt or put off any progress until you can afford to buy the whole year's supply at one time.
4. Replace items as you use them. Remember these coupons are for items in addition to your regular grocery list.
5. Watch for sales or other specials. Grocery stores don't always have the best buys.
6. If you miss a week, skip to the next week. Don't get behind.
7. Share your "hot buys" and bargains with others in the ward.

Week 1
Medicine chest: feminine products, Pepto Bismol, cough drops. (You won't want to go get it when you've got it.)

Week 2
Canned meats: tuna, Spam, dried beef, etc. - at least 10 cans

Week 3
Personal products: soap, deodorant, toilet tissue, shampoo, lotion, etc.

Week 4
Assemble an emergency sewing kit. Thread, pins, needles, buttons, snaps, zippers, tape measure, scissors.

Week 5
Solid vegetable shortening. Less expensive than oil, but buy oil if you prefer.

Week 6
Juice: avoid watered products. Get 100% juice: lemon, orange, pineapple, etc.

Week 7
Toothpaste, floss, razors, shaving cream. Consider your family's needs.

Week 8
Mixes! Cake, pancake, muffin, Bisquick. Purchase or make your own.

Week 9
Spices and herbs you can use most often; pepper, bay leaves, cinnamon, oregano, etc.

Week 10
Eating rice makes us nice! Secure 10, 15, or 20 pounds.

Week 11
More first aid, gauze patches, swabs, cotton balls, fikrst aid tape, etc.

Week 12
Pasta! Buy at least five pounds. Select a variety.

Week 13
Dry milk - 40 oz. will make 5 gallons. Get what your family will need.

Week 14
Peanut butter!!!!

Week 15
Ready dinners: ravioli, pasta, oriental, boxed, frozen - get what your family will eat.

Week 16
Flour - buy at least 10 extra pounds for a small family, 25 extra pounds for a large family.

Week 17
Dry soup and crackers.

Week 18
Gelatin and pudding mixes.

Week 19
Garden seeds - lots of vegetables. They are full of vitamins, minerals. Include a few flower seeds. In times of emergency, our spirits needs brightening, too.

Week 20
Safety Week!
A length of cord or twine, flashlight and batteries (dated)

Week 21
Freeze-a-Cheese! You can freeze cheese in blocks, but it is easier to use if you grate it first and freeze it in bags. Then you can grab the amount you need all ready to use.

Week 22
Paper towels, aluminum foil, garbage bags, freezer bags, sandwich bags, etc.

Week 23
It's "Dress-your-burger" week. Mustard, catsup, relish, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, etc.

Week 24
White sales! Buy a blanket or some sheets.

Week 25
Sure-Jell, Certo, parafin, lids and rings - other canning supplies OR buy some jams and jellies.

Week 26
Fill those water jugs!

Week 27
Canned milk. The December 1989 Ensign has great ideas for using canned milk.

Week 28
Canned goods - whatever your family likes.

Week 29
Back-to-school Sales! Paper, pencils, journals, envelopes, postage stamps, etc.

Week 30
Baking powder, soda, cornstarch, yeast, etc. - for baking days coming up. Dry yeast freezes well.

Week 31
Tomato Week! Juice, whole, sauce, paste - make it or buy it.

Week 32
Can some fruit (or buy some canned).

Week 33
Buy an extra 25 pounds of sugar.

Week 34
Can or freeze lots of vegetables OR buy some canned or frozen veggies.

Week 35
Get those dry beans, peas, legumes, lentils.

Week 36
Sweeteners - brown or powdered sugar, honey, corn syrup, etc.

Week 37
Iodized salt - 10 pounds. It seasons, preserves. In a pinch, it's toothpaste.

Week 38
One (or more) gallons of vinegar. It's a great cleaner, too!

Week 39
Canned soups and boxes of crackers.

Week 40
Popcorn - go for the big twelve pound bags.

Week 41
Canned goods: fruits or vegetables.

Week 42
Vitamins: Vitamins "A", "C", and "D" are particularly important.

Week 43
Ingredients for baking - cocoa, coconut, nuts, chocolate chips.

Week 44
Rolled oats, corn meal, Cream of wheat - get what your family will eat.

Week 45
More vegetables and fruits: canned or frozen.

Week 46
Detergent, bleach, cleanser, ammonia, disinfectant cleaners. Use coupons when available.

Week 47
First aid supplies: Band-Aids, calamine, neosporin, etc.

Week 48
Candles, matches. Put in a sturdy box you can located in the dark.

Week 49
Vegetable Oil - Get a good quality.

Week 50
Extra baking supplies for those Holiday treats.

Week 51
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Week 52
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
You've given yourself a great gift - Security! But don't just pat yourself on the back. Start up again in the New Year to rotate and replenish those supplies you've used.

2 comments:

sherry said...

What a wonderful, helpful, thoughtful and wise blog you've created...the best I've found to date!

While I am not LDS, I see the requirement and wisdom in preparing food storage.

If it's all right with you, I'd like to share your blog with others. I have a private blog so I hope it's all right. I won't share your blog address until I hear from you.

Bless you this day!

In Christ,
Jane

K P said...

Thank you for your kind comments!

I would be very happy and grateful if you'd share my blog with others! I hope the information shared on this blog will help others' lives and bring them peace in these troubled times.

Your friend, KP