The holidays are here and Slow Food Foothills wants to celebrate with good cheer. Join us for a holiday potluck gathering and Outreach Warming Tree at Open Road Coffee in Tryon, Sunday, Dec. 8, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Remember our Polk County neighbors in need of the most basic warm clothing and outerwear when finding your bargains or knitting your own gifts.

The group will decorate a warming tree with donated hats, mittens, scarf, gloves, socks and so on (new or next to new unwrapped and attached to the tree with clothes pins) or gift-wrap a larger donated item like robe or blanket for under the tree. Please label content and size when doing so.

This finished Slow Food Foothills Warming tree will go to Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry. Many people took the time to “slowknit” warming items for people in need. The energy and love behind these items was noticed and deeply appreciated by the client of Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry, according to director, Carol Newton, last year.  TBOM will also accept a “slow food” drive for their pantries.

Fresh produce, bags of fruit, nuts, whole-grains, healthy prepared foods, and so on are all manageable by the ministry’s distribution system.

The potluck food theme is “Befores and Afters” so bring party platters in finger-sized servings in appetizers or desserts. Holiday spirited beverage recipes and after-dinner warm drinks are also an option. Please have pre-mixed with small sampling cups to pass.

Those attending are asked once again to bring their own place settings and a description of their dish noting anything local.

Categories we are encouraging include: sweet, savory, meat, vegetarian, vegan, nut-based, and so on.

– article submitted by 

Carol Lynn Jackson