Food in plenty

26 November
The members of our own WI plus some from neighbouring WIs enjoyed a lovely tea party this afternoon in a private house. Not only were the cakes definitely up to WI standard but there was also an interesting selection of books on offer as part of a book swap. The activity was in response to the plea from Denman College to finance some building improvements to the college by asking members to provide cups of tea @ £1 each to their friends and neighbours. This way the NFWI calculates that if every member of the 210,000 or so membership just sold one cup, sufficient money would be raised with little effort.A good idea and a very pleasant way to achieve the required funds.

25 November
What a lovely afternoon about 100 WI members from across the county enjoyed today! Such a simple idea too! Fill a room with people interested in craft of all kinds and get them to "Show and Tell" in true kindergarten manner, have a bargain sales table of materials and thread and serve teas.It was marvellous to see what others had created and the bulk of it was the result of putting their skill into making something of their own design, not just following a printed pattern. Some of the work was inspired by foreign travel where a traditional craft had been studied and then adapted into use in the home country.I lost count of the different crafts on display and some of the items produced were to die for. If you missed this meeting watch out for the next wherever it is held.Bucks doesn't need Kirstie Allsopp!

24 November
A few of us drove over to the WI shop which was temporarily set up in a private house in Stony Stratford. There was another at Little Missenden on the same day.This scheme enables those of us at a distance from Stuart Lodge in High Wycombe to see what is on offer.The northern shop seemed very busy when we were there and there was a good selection of items from which to choose.Then of course there was the opportunity to chat over a mince pie and coffee.

23 November
This wasn't an official WI event but as it was held by one of our local WI members, lots of the WI attended. We heard a presentation by a representative of the Food Bank which has its headquarters in Milton Keynes. I think people who just go to the centre for shopping have no idea of some of the poverty in the various communities within the city grid. As we were told, it only needs a combination of misfortunes to reduce a family to needing a basic box of food: most boxes are given out over a short period of time and all who receive are referred by a social welfare body or a church or a job centre to avoid the system being abused.I think the work of this organisation, completely staffed by volunteers, ties in well with the NFWI work with the campaign to make people aware of the domestic violence against women. Quite a few reduced to desperate straits are escaping a home where violence has become too much to bear.A tin of baked beans can sometimes be a feast. The Food Bank can only deal with food that does not require refridgeration as neither it nor the recipients have the means to keep things frozen.The WI has always kept the needs of the family as part of its aims and objects so the afternoon was relevant to what the WI is about.