I am a caregiver to someone with life-altering food allergies. My journey began when my daughter, Hannah, asked me to move in with her to help care for my young grandson and her critically disabled husband. Our first goal was to improve my son-in-law’s quality of life and, through personal research, we discovered he had undiagnosed food allergies. I was head chef and when we took gluten out of our diet, his body hurt less, and surprisingly, Hannah also felt better.
 
Within four months, my son-in-law died, but we continued to eat gluten free. Hannah's health improved and then she started experiencing pain, bloating and chronic diarrhea after she ate. We used the food elimination diet to identify the offending foods. If she felt better after eliminating a food item, I made substitutions and revamped my recipes. We quickly learned that she needed to remove soy, dairy, peanuts and tree nuts.

Hannah kept a food diary to correlate symptoms with specific foods. She experienced chronic exhaustion, chronic diarrhea, chronic hunger, brain fog and constant fear. Knowing gut health was one key part of the problem, she took prebiotics and probiotics and eliminated even more foods. Each change brought improvements as well as unexpected downturns. She discovered that what she put on her skin mattered as much as what she put into her mouth when she learned there was wheat germ in her shampoo and sugar in her shaving cream.
 
At her lowest point, Hannah had a list of 200 foods that she reacted to. By this time, she could only eat animal proteins and some vegetables. Needless to say, it became more difficult to cook creatively and keep meals interesting and nutritious. When she could no longer eat raw vegetables, Hannah’s positive attitude took a nosedive. When she tested positive to sensitivity to all forms of rice and rice flour, I cried because I was out of ideas for substitutions. My heart ached for her as she lost weight—going from a size 10 to size 0. For the first time in my life, I was terrified for her as she explored filing for disability.
 
Hannah was always courageous, and she stubbornly refused to give up. We always knew there was one more strategy to try, another professional to turn to, a book that would give us insight and another alternative therapy, since conventional doctors could not handle complex cases like hers.
 
When one doctor prescribed 10 belly laughs a day, there didn’t seem to be much to laugh about. But, it got easier when we could laugh at ourselves and we thought his was a clever, unexpected play on words. When Hannah was depressed, I would see her in the backyard walking barefoot in the green grass, smelling flowers and sitting in the sun. She learned the joy of the intricate colors of a sunset and ever-changing shapes in the sky. Her health improved dramatically when she associated gut health with emotions, specifically the need to forgive. We prayed and saw God’s healing power. Ultimately, it took several strategies to produce healing. 
 
Hannah would be the first to advise you to think outside the box, be determined, and never give up. Reach out and know that help can sometimes come from unexpected places, like the conversation with a stranger in a grocery store who told her about a new therapy. Or the church member with the name of an amazing nutritionist who desensitized her to most of those offending foods. There is always hope and help! Be courageous and persistent!

It is still SUMMER!!!  As you consider ways to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air and the warmth of the sun, you may also be considering ways to do it enjoying gluten free and allergy-friendly food.  

How about a picnic?! Consider your favorite park or even your own backyard. Your friends and family can lie down on their favorite blanket and prepare their own baskets. What you all pack will definitely be a conversation starter! 

To help you prep for such an easy, breezy gathering, we offer fun recipes that will travel well in your cooler or basket and may or may not require utensils.

Sandwiches – Pile these ingredients on top of your favorite gluten free, grain substitute bread. 

Heirloom Tomatoes: Tomatoes are in peak season! In a few minutes, you can make a beautiful heirloom tomato sandwich.  

Create a white bean puree by blending 1.5 cups of cooked, drained, and rinsed cannellini beans with 2 Tbsp of extra-virgin olive oil, 2 garlic cloves, 3 Tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tsp of capers (yummy!) — season with salt and black pepper, and chill. 

When you are ready to assemble the sandwiches, toast your bread, spread the chilled white bean puree on the slices, and layer with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, fresh basil, sea salt, pepper, and if you are adventurous, a sprinkle of smoked paprika. Your friends will surely want the recipe!

Spinach Hummus Wrap: Consider making  a bright, crisp, light to-go spinach hummus wrap. You've got options! This recipe will substitute sunflower butter for tahini. You can also consider a beet or butternut hummus. If you would prefer a warm wrap, consider using your favorite veggies that you can enjoy roasted. 

In a food processor, combine and blend well 15-ounces of drained and rinsed canned chickpeas, 1/4 cup of vegetable broth or water, 3 Tbsp of lemon juice, 2 Tbsp of sunflower butter (or a seed butter of your choice), 1 garlic clove, 1/2 tsp of sea salt, 1/4 cup of parsley, 1/8 tsp of smoked paprika, and black pepper to taste. Add 1.5 cups of packed fresh spinach and blend again. Chill. 

Assemble the wraps with 1/4 cup of hummus on each wrap, making sure to leave 1/2 an inch border around the edges. Layer wrap with spinach leaves and thinly sliced cucumbers (1 cucumber, cut vertically; 2 slices per wrap) and mild peppers (2-3 peppers; 6 slices per wrap). Top with fresh parsley and your protein of choice. Roll up the wraps. Refrigerate.

Pasta Salad  
One thing about a pasta salad is that you can make it ahead of time. The day before your picnic, you can prepare your allergy-friendly noodles (or quinoa!) according to the package directions. By the way, we are omitting the feta or mozzarella cheese that is typically used in pasta recipes. 

As the pasta cooks, you can make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), 3 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning, or herbs de Provence, 1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes, and 3/4 tsp of sea salt. You may notice the dressing has a strong flavor, but it will mellow out.  

Drain the pasta, toss it with a bit of EVOO to keep it from sticking together, and cool to room temperature. In a large bowl filled with 2 heaping cups of halved cherry tomatoes, 1.5 cups cooked, drained, and rinsed chickpeas, 2 cups of arugula (or spinach, if you prefer), 1 cup of sliced half-moons of Persian cucumbers, 1 cup of torn basil leaves, 1/2 cup minced parsley, and 1/2 cup chopped mint (refreshing!). Pour the dressing on top and toss to coat. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

Salsa with Chips 
Not in the mood for salad or pasta? How about a simple salsa with chips! 

Tomato Salsa: Again, tomatoes are at peak season so take advantage of sun-kissed tomatoes. Combine 2 cups of diced tomatoes (making sure to remove the tomato seed and juice to ensure the pico de gallo is not watery), 3/4 cup of white onion (or red onion or scallions), 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 stemmed and diced jalapeno pepper, and sea salt to taste. Chill and enjoy with your favorite allergy-friendly tortilla chips! 

Want more depth and flavor?  Add some corn kernels, black beans, cumin, or diced red bell pepper for more depth and flavor. You can even add diced avocado!

Mango Salsa: If you would rather a sweet salsa, prepare a mango salsa. Peel and dice 2 medium ripe mangoes and, in a medium bowl, mix mango with 1/4 cup diced red onion, 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro, juice, and zest of 1 lime, 1 small grated garlic clove, 1/2 of minced jalapeno, and sea salt to taste. 

You can make it fancier by using pickled jalapeno or onion. You can bulk it up with black beans, finely diced red peppers, or avocado. 

Pineapple Salsa: You can also consider a pineapple salsa! Use pre-cut pineapple. If you don't mind cutting a whole, fresh pineapple, consider doing so the day before your picnic. Also, finely dice all ingredients, so nothing is left out in every bite. 

In a medium bowl, combine 2 cups of diced pineapple, 1/4 cup red onion, 1/2 diced jalapeno, juice, and zest of lime (to your liking), 1/2 cup cilantro, 1 minced garlic clove, and 1/4 tsp of sea salt. 

Switch things up by adding red bell pepper or mango! You can even make a bowl of it with cilantro lime rice, veggies, black beans, and guacamole! 

Like I said at the beginning, you have options. After reading these recipes, I hope you are now inspired to plan your picnic with friends and loved ones. Let us know your favorite park and which recipes you made for your gathering!

To the S.A.F.E. Food Pantry Community,

As events move rapidly each day and we all adjust to social distancing as the new normal, we hope that you are able to stay safe and healthy. Please know that we are doing our best to advocate for those facing food insecurity while dealing with health issues requiring gluten free and allergy-friendly food.
 
To serve our existing clients during this health crisis, we are implementing the S.A.F.E. Food Pantry Emergency Assistance Program so our clients get access to the food they need to stay healthy.   Our Board of Directors approved this program because we are unable to provide gluten free and allergy-friendly food through our partners at this time. Households that submitted an application prior to March 15, 2020 and were approved for services at the Howard County Food Bank or the Emergency Food Pantry can apply for a one-time $50 grocery store gift card to purchase gluten free and allergy-friendly items.  Grocery store gift cards are available for Giant Food, Harris Teeter, Safeway, or Wegmans.  The fastest way to apply is online at our website.  You can also call or text us at 443-741-1060, or email us at info@safefoodpantry.org .  We will return your message as soon as possible.

Our food pantry partners continue to operate in accordance with local, state, and national guidance as follows:

• Howard County Food Bank –The Community Action Council’s Howard County Food Bank is still providing prepared bags of food instead of allowing clients to shop for their food as normally done.  This means that there is no access to the S.A.F.E. Food Pantry shelves to obtain gluten free and allergy-friendly food.  We encourage you to go to the Howard County Food Bank despite this limitation. You will still have the opportunity to select fresh produce and meat as you get the prepared bag of food.  We urge S.A.F.E. clients at this location to participate in the new S.A.F.E. Food Pantry Emergency Assistance Program described above.  Food distribution is on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1-4PM and by appointment on Wednesday evening from 5-8PM and Saturday morning from 9AM-12PM.  Please monitor the CAC website for distribution announcements.
• Emergency Food Pantry  - The building housing the Emergency Food Pantry is not open to the public.  Current clients may be able to obtain a prepared bag of regular food from their referral organization, depending on availability.  S.A.F.E. has stopped distributing food from this location.  S.A.F.E. clients at this location may request help through the new S.A.F.E. Food Pantry Emergency Assistance Program described above.
  

 
S.A.F.E. Food Pantry looks forward to resuming normal distribution activity as soon as circumstances allow.  We remain ready and willing to serve those needing safe food.
 
Stay safe and healthy!
 
Warm regards,
Tiffany Holtzman
Founder & Board President
S.A.F.E. Food Pantry

P.S. Your financial support will help us restock our food pantries for the influx of families we anticipate seeing in the future.  Food allergies, celiac disease, and gluten sensitivity don’t discriminate based on age, gender, ethnicity, zip code, or income.  We will have families who are hurting, so please consider making an online donation or Text-to-Donate Give2SAFE to 44-321.  If you have donated recently, thank you again for your support!

To the S.A.F.E. Food Pantry Community,

We understand that this is a difficult time for the entire population. We also recognize that for those facing health issues involving food allergies, celiac disease, and gluten sensitivity, managing these difficulties can be even more challenging.  S.A.F.E. Food Pantry is actively working with its partners to make food available to the extent it is possible while following the guidance of local, state, and national authorities. 
 
Our food pantry partners have modified their activities in keeping with guidance issued to date. S.A.F.E. Food Pantry will, in turn,  modify its activities as follows:

• Food Distribution
  • Howard County Food Bank – To encourage social distancing, our partner, the Community Action Council’s Howard County Food Bank, will be providing prepared bags of food instead of allowing clients to shop for their food as normally done.  This means that there will be no access to the S.A.F.E. Food Pantry shelves to obtain gluten free and allergy-friendly food.  We encourage  you to  go to the Howard County Food Bank despite this limitation. You will still have the opportunity to select fresh produce and meat  as you get the prepared bag of food.  Food distribution will start on Tuesday, March 17 during normal distribution hours from 1-4PM.  Please monitor the CAC website for distribution announcements.
  • Emergency Food Pantry – Due to a reduction in staff and volunteers, current Emergency Food Pantry clients must check with their referral organization for access to the Emergency Food Pantry.  S.A.F.E. has a limited supply of gluten free and allergy-friendly food available on its shelves. Due to grocery store restrictions, we may not be able to replenish the S.A.F.E. shelves at the Emergency Food Pantry as we would prefer.  At this time, we are unable to accept new applications. If you have any questions, please call or text S.A.F.E. at 443-741-1060 or email us at info@safefoodpantry.org  We will respond as quickly as we can.
  • Cleaning – Our partners have started additional cleaning procedures to include wiping high-touch surfaces down more often, making available and using gloves, and other new safety protocols to ensure the health and well-being of all who visit their premises.
• Food for Thought –The Howard County Library System has closed its branches until the end of March following guidance from the CDC and state authorities.  As a result, our first quarter 2020 Food for Thought session has been cancelled.  We will make an announcement regarding future Food for Thought sessions after the library system reopens to the public.
• Volunteers – Out of an abundance of caution, we are asking current volunteers to help us virtually.  There will be no new volunteer opportunities scheduled at this time. We look forward to posting new volunteer opportunities after this health crisis has passed. 

Here are some helpful resources:

• Howard County Health Department website and Information Line at 410-313-6284
• CDC Guidance on Managing Anxiety and Stress
• American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s Important Information about COVID-19 for Those with Asthma  

S.A.F.E. Food Pantry will resume normal activity at the same time our food pantry partners do.  At that point, we will have families in dire need of gluten free and allergy-friendly food.  Please consider making an online donation or Text-to-Donate Give2SAFE to 44-321.  Your monetary donations will help us purchase the most critically needed items to restock our shelves to help our clients.
 
Stay safe and healthy!
 
Warm regards,
Tiffany Holtzman
Founder & Board President
S.A.F.E. Food Pantry

Today is launch day for the Giant Food Community Bag Program! Starting today and for the entire month of July, when you purchase a $2.50 reusable Community Bag at the Giant Food located at 8805 Centre Park Drive, Columbia MD, $1 is donated to S.A.F.E. Food Pantry, unless otherwise directed by the customer through the Giving Tag attached to the bag.

Our goal is to sell 200 bags, equivalent to $200 raised. We are confident that with the help of our dedicated supporters, we can reach this goal.  Money raised will help further our mission to educate, inspire, and engage the community about the necessity for gluten free and allergy-friendly food and provide that safe food to those in need.

We strongly encourage you to share this news with family and friends as well!  The Community Bags are located on displays around the store and at the checkout. For more information about the program, please visit giantfood.bags4mycause.com.

Thank you for your support,
Team S.A.F.E.

P.S. We hope that you will support the Giant Store that selected us for the program.  You can also purchase the $2.50 Community Bag at any Giant Food and follow the instructions on the attached Giving Tag to direct the $1 donation to S.A.F.E. Food Pantry.