A Volunteer in Austin, TX, Shares Her Grocery Diary After Winter Storm Uri

Name: Claire
Location: Austin, TX
Number of individuals in family: 1 (plus my canine, Pickle)
Age: 31
Occupation: I used to be previously a Marketing & Planning Consultant in the hospitality and tourism business, however skilled a COVID-related layoff. I’m at the moment doing unbiased contract work and volunteering with a number of organizations whereas I search for a everlasting, salaried job.
Grocery looking for how lengthy? One week
Where did you store? H-E-B
How a lot did you spend? $93.20. ($44.79 for groceries, $48.41 on takeout)
Dietary restrictions? I participated in my first Whole30 final month. Since then, I’ve actually in the reduction of on dairy, fried meals, bread, and alcohol. 

How have been you influenced by Winter Storm Uri?

Last month was an actual doozy as Texas skilled freezing temperatures, energy outages, and lack of water. To put together, I went as early as I might on Sunday, February 14, to fill my tank with fuel. I additionally made a listing of things I had round the home already that I might have in case of an emergency. I had loads of mesquite wooden (as a consequence of my Texas barbecue obsession!) and introduced all of it into the home to burn in the fireside. I actually rationed my wooden utilization as a result of I used to be undecided how lengthy the facility outage would final. I additionally raided my pantry and kitchen and stuffed as many containers as I might with filtered water.  

My home misplaced energy for 2 days (February 16 to February 18) and water for 4 days (February 17 to February 20). Austin was on a boil discover from the seventeenth to the twenty third. My home was 40 levels inside, however I used to be lucky to have a roof over my head and a hearth that helped preserve me heat at night time.

For most individuals I do know, this was their first time experiencing snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. It was scary, little question, however our neighborhood actually got here collectively to assist each other in a time of want. 

How did you select the place to purchase groceries?

I shopped at H-E-B for necessities and ordered takeout a number of instances. I additionally visited a number of native companies offering free meals to residents affected by Winter Storm Uri. Austin Food and Wine Alliance, in partnership with different native organizations, distributed meals provides to native eating places so they may present heat meals and feed these in want.

Last summer season, I discovered about Austin Shift Meal (ASM) and I’ve been aiding with weekly meal distribution ever since. ASM works to supply people in the restaurant/bar/catering/and occasions business with free meals. As the Volunteer and Engagement Manager, I’m proud to work alongside such fantastic individuals who care so deeply about our neighborhood and ensure we get meals into empty bellies.

Because of the winter storm, the next week’s meal planning and meals have been very totally different than regular. This is as a result of I didn’t know what could be in inventory on the retailer (not rather a lot, it seems!) and mentally I used to be not in the temper to meal prep after a tough week of many uncertainties. Here’s a take a look at what I ate (and spent) day after day.

Today, as a result of the snow and ice had melted from roadways, I used to be capable of go away my home for meals. First, I ended for lunch at Salty Cargo. The restaurant supplied a scrumptious coconut curry soup with seared salmon. It was a heat and scrumptious meal that felt lovingly ready.  

Then I made my technique to La Pâtisserie which was providing free drip espresso and muffins all weekend, whereas provides lasted. The fantastic women working the store have been so cheerful, candy, and welcoming. Let me inform you: A scorching espresso after every week of record-setting chilly temperatures in Texas simply hits totally different. The backside row of the show case contained day-old pastries that have been free, so I paired my espresso with a banana chocolate chip muffin. I additionally had a tart with toasted marshmallows, which was pleasant.

The Austin Food and Wine Alliance was offering meals from Garbo’s, so I ended by for a cheeseburger with a facet of chips. Knowing that grocery shops have been scarce with meals, and that my water stress was nonetheless low on high of the Austin water boil discover, I used to be keen and appreciative of the meal.  

Today I ventured to my grocery retailer, H-E-B. The solely two issues I had written down on my listing have been entire espresso and eggs. I often am higher ready for a visit to the grocery, however this go to was totally different as a result of I knew many issues could be out of inventory. There have been tons of empty cabinets which ought to have stocked water, eggs, cheese, milk, ready-made meals, and extra. I got here dwelling with one apple, 5 tomatoes, mini candy peppers, a head of romaine lettuce, roasted herb turkey breast, a dozen eggs, Dave’s Killer Bread, Tate’s chocolate chip cookies, and darkish roast espresso ($44.79). This was the primary loaf of bread that I bought in 2021. After a wonky week, I used to be actually craving sandwiches. 

For lunch I made a sandwich with toasted bread, turkey, tomato, candy pepper, lettuce, spicy mustard, hummus, and pickle slices. A few hours later, I ended at Colleen’s Kitchen for dinner. The Austin Food and Wine Alliance was offering meals from there, so I picked up fried hen, mashed potatoes, and inexperienced beans. 

Later that night I signed on for a digital class with Antonelli’s Cheese, benefitting Austin Shift Meal (ASM). As the Volunteer and Engagement Manager for ASM, I used to be provided a free ticket to this occasion. I sampled seven totally different cheeses and it was good.  

This morning I brewed myself a cup of espresso and drank 40 ounces of water. Tuesday is the day I get to serve my neighborhood at ASM. From 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. we hand out 80 meals to members of the service business experiencing hardships on account of COVID-19. Each week ASM consists of 4 meals from native eating places together with different goodies together with bread and beer/wine/seltzers.

This week’s choices included the next:

Today for breakfast I made a sandwich with scrambled egg, lettuce, candy pepper, leftover mashed potatoes (from Colleen’s Kitchen), leftover blueberry lemon thyme chevre + coupole (from Antonelli’s cheese class), tomato, and leftover turkey breast. I additionally had some morning espresso.

I spent nearly all of my day doing pick-up and drop-off of meals for Good Work Austin (GWA). GWA is a neighborhood of native restaurant companies in Austin, TX, dedicated to offering a residing wage to workers ($15/hour), reasonably priced healthcare, and guaranteeing that at the least 50 % of all meals are sourced by native farmers. They have raised greater than $30,000 to supply meals to members of the neighborhood experiencing meals insecurities. Lucky Robot donated 300 meals to the Georgian Manor neighborhood (nonetheless with out water). And Thai Kun donated 90 meals to Texas Baptist Children’s Home.

After my shift, I ended for a day espresso from Cenote and ordered an iced espresso with a splash of vanilla and almond milk. ($5.29)

For dinner, I had ham and cheese Parker House rolls with arugula salad from Hank’s (supplied by ASM) and three Tate’s cookies for dessert.

This morning I wakened and had espresso and water (which I’ve a brand new appreciation for). I sometimes have 128 ounces of water day by day, however I didn’t have entry to water for 4 days the week of Winter Storm Uri. 

For a fast, early lunch earlier than heading out the door to choose up/drop off extra meals, I ate the leftover hen flautas and rice from El Chile Café y Cantina.

After that, I made some deliveries: The first cease was to Dobie College Prep School, the place Texas French Bread supplied sandwiches. I assisted with distribution and we have been capable of present meals, dry items, and water to over 200 households. The college is positioned in a predominantly Latinx neighborhood. I’m bilingual and loved with the ability to converse in Spanish with members of the neighborhood whereas putting provides in their automobiles. 

The second cease was with Ka-Prow, who donated 60 meals to distribute at Millenium Youth Complex. 

Later that night time, I used the air fryer to bake two candy potatoes, some carrots, and mini candy peppers. I made a large salad and added mashed candy potato, carrots, and mini candy peppers to the bowl atop romaine lettuce, tomatoes, turkey breast, cheese crumbles (Antonelli’s leftover), onion, cracked pepper, and Greek salad dressing.

This morning I took a seasonal gardening class online and created a crop plan. In an effort to save cash on meals, I made a decision that this yr could be the yr that I’d plant a veggie and herb backyard in my yard. I minored in horticulture and my household owns a panorama and nursery firm, and a tree farm. (I figured I’d get again to my roots.) This class is a pleasant refresh on what I discovered in college and focuses on the local weather of Central South Texas.

I’ve created my crop plan primarily based on greens and herbs that can carry out properly in the Texas warmth. This spring I’ll be planting tomatoes, bell peppers, squash, basil, oregano, thyme, inexperienced onions, and dill. 

After the category I had a free espresso and mini chocolate chip pecan cookie from Yelp Austin and Thoroughbread. I purchased a banana Nutella espresso ($4).

For dinner I ordered takeout from New Fortune Chinese. I had soup dumplings, pork shumai, shrimp toast, shrimp and pork wontons, basil hen wontons, onion pancake ($28).

This morning I wakened late with no time for espresso or breakfast earlier than volunteering at 9 a.m. I helped distribute 420 meals, dry items, and water to households at Guerrero Thompson Elementary. There was no want to enroll beforehand. Those in want simply wanted to hitch the automotive line to obtain provides.

Thank you for sharing, Claire. To donate to the Austin Shift Meal, click on here.

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