When Bad Things Happen to Good People–There IS Something You Can Do

If you’re a food blogger, or food blog follower, you’ve likely already heard about the tragedy that’s struck a popular member of the blogging community, Jennifer Perillo, of In Jennie’s Kitchen.  Recently, her husband had a massive, fatal heart attack, leaving her with not only her own terrible loss but with two young children to raise and daunting financial obligations.

Some of Jennifer’s blogger friends have initiated a fund-raising effort, providing a concrete, useful way for those of us who really want to reach out and help to do so. Through bloggerswithoutborders it’s possible to make direct cash donations, or you can bid on food-related auction items and services donated by various individual food bloggers and authors on their websites. Already individual auctions include such tempting offerings as a dinner prepared by gluten-free girl, Shauna Ahern, and her chef husband, Danny; a cooking class taught by cookbook author Pam Anderson; and a set of quality baking pans from Chicago Metallic. For the current listing of items click here.

I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Jennie, but I have some slight inkling of her devastating loss and want to help in at least a small way. I have a close friend who suddenly lost her husband in a plane crash, plus I faced a scary ordeal of my own hubby unexpectedly needing open-heart surgery last year. I am blessed to be able to say that my story had a happy ending–he is still with me and truly is as good as new.

I am giving a cash donation to the Fund for Jennie myself, but to encourage you to participate, I’m also offering a special auction item you might enjoy bidding on. The minimum bid is $50. Whatever is earned will go directly to the Fund.  I’ll post here every few days with an update of what the latest winning bid is, so you’ll know what you have to top.

Update: As of Monday, Aug. 29 the winning bid is $75–do I hear more?  Sept.30–the auction is now closed. The winning bid was $100. Thanks for your interest.

Box of Handsome Autumn Leaf Sugar Cookies, Cookie Crafting Lesson, and 3-Cookbook Package: Two dozen of my autumn leaf  “hand painted” iced sugar cookies to be shipped anywhere in the U.S., plus a personal cookie crafting session to learn to create your own beautiful leaf cookies right here in my Maryland kitchen. (Cookie crafting class to be scheduled at a mutually agreeable time for winning bidder and  up to two other guests). Bonus items: Signed copies of my bread, cookie, and dessert cookbooks. Must take delivery of all items by August 25, 2012.

If you wish to participate in my auction, please contact me at nancy@kitchenlane.com with your bid.  Or, if you wish, make your own cash donation. This time, there really is something you can do.