Last year I asked you to send in pictures of your gardens, and those pictures blew me away. While those pictures are still welcome, I have a fun new idea that I think you guys are going to love. Well, I’m certainly going to love it!
Over Christmas, I took some pictures of my mom’s pantry. Now I’ve been in that pantry plenty of times, but taking some pictures of it opened my eyes a bit. First, it was fascinating to see what types and brands of foods she purchased compared to what I keep in my pantry. Her staples are different than mine. The makeup of her pantry and fridge is so different, even though, overall, we enjoy many of the same meals and foods. Second, it was fun to see how different she organized her pantry {and fridge}. And third, the sheer amount of food made me feel a tiny bit guilty.
We have so much, while so many go without or are forced to eat very little. While I am frugal for the most part when I grocery shop, and really make a conscious effort not to waste food, we are just super lucky to have such full pantries.
On the one hand, I’d love to see pictures of your pantries, your freezers and your fridges. I’d love to hear about where you shop, how you save, how you organize and how/if you preserve your food {do you can? dehydrate? freeze?}. And I’d love to feature these “pantry pics” on my site. On the other hand, I’d also love to help others fill their pantries.
So an idea was born: you send, I give.
You submit pictures of your pantry/fridge/freezer/cupboards, and I will donate $20 to a food bank {up to $5,000}. If your submission is chosen to be featured on my site, you will receive a $20 Amazon gift card, but even if it isn’t, I will still donate the $20. $20/$20. Get it?!
You must submit at least 5 HIGH QUALITY pictures, as well as a short blurb {at the very least} about you and your food habits. I realize that pantries are often dark, so while every submission will still earn the $20 towards the food bank, if you’d like to have your submission featured, you must submit quality pictures. Did I mention your photos need to be clear and well lit? 😉
Plus, I’d love to see any creative storage tips you have, hear about where and how frequently you shop, if you use a menu or if you wing it, if you shop seasonally or make choices based on sales. The more information you provide, the better chance you have of having your pantry being featured.
For every submission I receive with 5 pictures, and the story behind those pictures, I will put $20 into the Food Pantry Pot. I’ll keep a running tally on the side bar of the site, so you can follow along and track it too. This year I have plans to travel all across the country, so frequently when traveling, I’ll pull the money from the pot, hit the grocery store and then find a local food bank in the town I’m visiting. With your help, I’ll essentially “food bomb” pantries on my vacations. This is going to be fun!
So grab your cameras, straighten up those cans in the cupboard and submit away. The $20/$20 Challenge is on!!
Things to keep in mind when you send me your submissions:
- I have major OCD. You do not have to be a professional photographer, but your photos do need to be clear and well lit or I won’t be able to use them.
- All photos must be original, and they must have been taken by YOU. All photos become property of One Hundred Dollars A Month once submitted.
- I won’t be able to use every submission, but every submission with 5 pictures, and the story behind those pictures will put $20 in the food bank pot, regardless of whether it is used on the site or not. However, a $20 Amazon gift card will only be awarded if the submission is published.
- Be sure to include a little information about yourself, like your shopping habits or tips. Also, please include your first name and what state or country you are from.
- If you have a blog and would like me to link back to it, please let me know, I’d be happy too.
- Must submit at least 5 pictures per submission, but the more the merrier just in case I do not select them all.
- One submission per person.
- Send submissions via email to onehundreddollarsamonth @ gmail.com {remove the spaces} and be sure and put $20/$20 Challenge in the subject line.
- A maximum of $5,000 will be donated.
The money will come from this years blog earnings {so keep that in mind the next time you see a link to a cool product on my daily deal posts}.
Think we’re crazy to take on such a big project? Well, if you are a long time reader then you know we’ve done it before… Remember when I asked you to send in all those gnomes in 2013? Together we raised over $5,000 for St Jude. Wasn’t that a hoot! Our trip to the St. Jude Vegetable Garden and Hospital was so amazing, we wanted to do something similar.
Again, thanks for your help. Giving back is cool!
~Mavis
Leanna T. says
I LOVE this!!! You are awesome! I will try to submit my pics but you are warned. 🙂 Your OCD will have a hemorrhage. I know where everything is I promise. 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
Ha Ha… okay. 🙂
Ali says
Delurking to say hi from Scotland! Love your blog.
Would you like pantry pics from your overseas readers? They’d be full of different stuff from US based ones 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes! Yes of course. Send them in. 🙂 I LOVE SCOTLAND.
Jaynie says
This is a great idea, I hope I can get organized before it’s over. I’m waiting on the conversion of my utility closet into a pantry.
I would like to suggest that you consider donating cash instead of groceries. Having volunteered at at food panty for many years the gift of cash can buy so much more food than the donation of food. The figure used to be $10 for every $1 donated. I think what you are doing is great.
Monique S says
I read it as she will donate $ not food…just that its going to the food pantries. Its typically 3 times buying power in todays market….which is still AMAZING!!
Monique S says
Submitted! I included a couple of my garden photos too, since its just a couple planters on my deck, and that’s part of my food too, right?? 😉
Awesome way to give back, Mavis!!! I’ve donated on my end too to match you 🙂 Hope I get featured 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
Yay! Thanks Monique. 🙂
HollyG says
What a great way to help out the food bank. I absolutely love a good pantry! I submitted a few photos (man it’s hard to take pictures of a long narrow room) of our pantry and the laundry room that the pantry supplies spill out into. I can’t wait to see everyone’s ideas.
Geneva Greenwell says
I can’t do pics but the refrigerator picture looks like my frig. bottles, bottles, jar, and more jars. I have no room for food.
Mary says
I’m totally on it – i’ll take pics this week!! Thanks so much for this excited you will be donated just based on some pics I send!!
Oh & btw your Mom is so pretty!!
Lynn D says
Girl, you don’t know what you’re asking of me. LOL. We have food stored all over this house. Canned goods in the basement, Candy in the china cabinet, a free standing cabinet with shelves in the kitchen, the fridge, the freezer and last….the cabinet. You want pictures of all of them????
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes! It makes it more exciting that way. 🙂
Sarah Koontz {Grounded & Surrounded} says
This is such a great idea. I am brand new to your site, although I think I have pinned some of your stuff in the past 😉 I just think this is a fabulous way to get people involved in giving back. I may just have to grab my Nikon and snap some pics for you. I too have food stashed all over the house!
Kristin Amer says
I love this idea! It’s awesome. Can I send in photos of my pantry’s past and present rather than just present?
Kristin
Melody Pate says
I just wanted to say, “THANK YOU!!!”
I am the treasurer for my county’s mobile food bank, and I love, love, loooove that you are donating such a generous amount to YOUR local food bank, as well as planting seeds in the minds of others. It is SUCH a great need.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Melody Pate
Clinton, NC
Nancy D says
I was just wondering what the current total is for “amount raised so far”…
🙂 Thanks!