Joshua Kaye Holiday Baking Bags

by Adam centamore.

“This year the goal is to help every family in need, around 4,500 households.” – MELISSA KAYE

The lack of access to food can be devastating.

The inability to source enough nutritious food to live is an issue that transcends economic, social, and demographic definitions. What was once sadly stigmatized as a personal failing or the result of being apathetic or careless is now recognized as a pervasive issue that can affect anyone, anywhere.

The problem of food insecurity isn’t necessarily about a chronic situation, such as ongoing poverty. It frequently arises from conditions or circumstances beyond someone’s control, such as an uninsured health crisis, sudden loss of income, or an extended economic downturn, crushing household budgets beyond their capabilities. Even gainfully and steadily employed people can feel these effects if their income doesn’t keep pace with inflation.

These circumstances can rapidly erode any savings or financial resources, leaving people unable to afford necessities, including food. Those suffering from food insecurity often feel shame, embarrassment, and anxiety. More than half of all households facing food insecurity must choose between eating and paying their mortgage or rent or refilling medical prescriptions. The consequences extend way beyond immediate hunger.

Short-term malnutrition can impact well-being, developmental potential, and mental health over the long term.

Unfortunately, more and more families in Massachusetts are experiencing these situations. More than 39% of all households in the state experienced food insecurity in 2023, totaling more than 1.9 million people. Every county in the Commonwealth feels the pain of not having enough food.

Graphic Courtesy of Greater Boston Food Bank

Fortunately, there are organizations dedicated to improving food access both nationally and locally. The organization Feeding America is the largest network of food banks, pantries, and prepared-meal providers in the country, serving more than 46 million Americans each year. Meals on Wheels supports over 5,000 community programs that deal with elderly-hunger and isolation with a team of over two million employees and volunteers. Penny Appeal USA alleviates food insecurity through its Feed the World program, helping people improve their lives both domestically and abroad.

In Massachusetts, affected households benefit from the tireless efforts of organizations such as Project Bread, and the Greater Boston Food Bank, which partners with more than 600 hunger relief agencies in 190 towns and cities across the state. Pop-up food pantries, grab-and-go kiosks, and delivery services are helping especially hard-hit communities get food to those who desperately need it.

In our own backyard, there are organizations combating food insecurity every day. One in particular is helping those needing better food access create special holiday memories through baking.

The Joshua Kaye Foundation is named for a young boy who died just weeks shy of his ninth birthday from an E. coli bacterial infection after eating contaminated ground beef. In his memory, the foundation was formed in 2014 by his parents, Andy and Melissa, Josh’s siblings, Lauren and Alex.

Ginger & Joshua Kaye (Photo Courtesy of Melissa Kaye).

The foundation’s mission is to further social issues that Joshua cared about. As the family shares on their website, “We spread love and kindness in Joshua’s memory. [The foundation] enables thoughtful community-based projects focused on inclusion, education, ecology, and the arts while empowering youth to make positive changes in their community.”

Melissa Kaye, Joshua’s mother and the foundation’s executive director, shares the origins The Josuha Kaye Foundation and what has become a full-time job. “It started out as this tiny whim when COVID hit,” she remembers. “That November, the kids needed some way to help and stay involved, so we started off by assembling 200 bags [of baking ingredients] in my front yard, and it just kept growing.”

Of all the efforts and causes supported by the foundation, their Holiday Baking Bags are particularly special because they enable families to make holiday recipes that are important and meaningful in their family traditions. They work with local students, clubs, teams, and businesses to raise funds to purchase and pack reusable grocery bags with pantry essentials like flour, sugar, baking soda, vanilla, chocolate chips, and many other ingredients needed to create cookies, pies, cakes, and other holiday treats.

While the gift bags serve an important purpose for households in need of food assistance, their greatest value may be in the way they help families celebrate and feel included during the holidays. Cherished traditions often come in the form of food, and the holiday dining table is usually covered in recipes that have been handed down for generations. Making that special dessert or treat brings dignity and comfort to those who need it most.

Melissa reflects on a critical observation made by her good friend, culinary [and eSEMA] writer, and executive director of the South Shore Food Bank, Pam Denholm. Pam pointed out a couple of years ago that, “Not only was this allowing families to bake together and fill their home with scents of home, but folks experiencing food insecurity are less likely to accept an invitation to go somewhere else because they don’t feel they can bring anything to contribute.”

The bags are distributed just before Thanksgiving and the holidays with help from the Marge Crispin Center in Braintree, the Weymouth Food Pantry, South Shore Food Bank, Quincy Interfaith Food Pantry, and others. Last year, more than 1,600 families benefited from the holiday baking bags. Melissa has set her sights on a loftier target for 2024. “This year the goal is to help every family in need, around 4,500 households.”

Melissa estimates the cost to produce all the bags needed this year to be around $120,000. If you would like to contribute or volunteer your time, they can be reached at:

Joshua Kaye Foundation
31 Forest Street
Braintree, MA 02184
(781) 856-4985
www.JoshuaKayeFoundation.org

Melissa's Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Joshua Kaye Foundation, and their baking bag pantry donation intiative, is in horor of a young boy who died just weeks shy of his ninth birthday from an E. coli bacterial infection after eating contaminated ground beef. In his memory, the foundation was formed in 2014 by his parents, Andy and Melissa, Josh’s siblings, Lauren and Alex. Thee cookies were one of his favorites.

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup shortening or oil
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375º.
  • Ina medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  • In large mixing bowl, mix shortening, sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
  • Scrape the sides of the bowl and add eggs and vanilla. Mix for 1 or 2 minutes longer.
  • Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt, just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
  • Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes. Let cool for several minutes on baking sheet before removing.

Notes

Joshua Kaye Foundation
31 Forest Street
Braintree, MA 02184
(781) 856-4985
www.JoshuaKayeFoundation.org

Snickerdoodle Cookies

The Joshua Kaye Foundation, and their baking bag pantry donation intiative, is in horor of a young boy who died just weeks shy of his ninth birthday from an E. coli bacterial infection after eating contaminated ground beef. In his memory, the foundation was formed in 2014 by his parents, Andy and Melissa, Josh’s siblings, Lauren and Alex. Thee cookies were one of his favorites.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter(softened) or shortening
  • cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture Ingredients

  • ¼ cup sugar
  • tablespoons cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to350º.
  • Ina large mixing bowl, mix butter/shortening and sugar with an electric mixer for4 to 5 minutes (using a fork or whisk will take a few extra minutes) until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the eggs and vanilla. Mix for 1 or 2 minutes longer.
  • Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt, just until combined.
  • If time allows, wrap the dough and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes. Roll into small balls until round and smooth. Drop into the cinnamon-sugar mixture and coat well. Using a spoon, coat for a second time, ensuring cookie balls are completely covered.
  • Place on baking sheet. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes. Let cool for several minutes on baking sheet before removing.