Affordable Ways to Gift During the Holiday Season
Photo Credit: Pexels, Pixaby
As the holiday season approaches, we’re reminded that the best gifts aren’t always wrapped in pretty paper or tied with ribbons, they’re the ones that nourish, comfort, and connect with the people we love. In a world driven by materialism and constant consumption, it’s time we return to the true spirit of giving.
At Saturday Morning Breakfast, we see every week how a simple meal and a moment of kindness can make a lasting impact on a single person or family. This kind of support gives people what they need most—the opportunity to experience change through compassion, trust, and community. Below are some fun, cost-effective ideas for meaningful giving this season.
Give the taste of togetherness!
Food connects us. Whether you’re giving to loved ones or to your community, there are countless ways to make a meal part of your gift:
DIY Meal Kits: Package your favorite chili, soup, or cookie recipe in a jar with the dry ingredients, a lovely handwritten note, and simple instructions. Affordable, fun, and personal!
Family Meal Baskets: Fill a reusable grocery tote or cute basket with pasta, sauce, beans, rice, spices, or pancake mix. You can fill it with essentials needed for a few family meals, or make it a theme by filling the basket with everything needed for one extravagant meal!
Local Produce Boxes: Gift a farm share, CSA produce box, or fruit delivery subscription. Supporting local farmers helps strengthen our food system from the ground up.
Meal Subscriptions: Affordable meal kits like EveryPlate or Dinnerly make great gifts for busy families or seniors who need an easy cooking option. Most meal subscriptions offer gift cards for purchase, and some even allow certain ingredients to be EBT-eligible!
And for the gift that keeps on giving: Donate to Saturday Morning Breakfast—where every Saturday morning, we serve free, nutritious meals to anyone in need.
Support community nutrition with these thoughtful, low-cost gifts:
Grocery store or restaurant gift cards
Reusable bags, water bottles, or lunch kits
Cookbooks with affordable meal ideas
Donations to SMB’s Full Plate Club, where monthly supporters help us buy ingredients and serve hundreds of breakfasts each month! You can also make a donation in someone’s honor, and we’ll send a thank-you note to share the impact your gift made in their name.
Give the gift of time!
Looking for a heartfelt way to celebrate the season? Volunteer! Bring your family or a few friends to help cook, serve, or clean up on a Saturday morning. You’ll share smiles, stories, and a sense of purpose that lasts long after the holidays end. If you can’t join in person, consider organizing a small donation drive at work, school, or church to collect food or hygiene items for SMB guests. Every effort counts! Share our mission with your networks! Every repost or mention helps us reach more people who care about hunger relief.
Why Table Talk 101?
We believe that awareness is the first step toward action. The Table Talk 101 Blog Series and our accompanying social media series are designed to:
Educate the community about issues like hunger and poverty.
Share updates on SMB’s programs and events.
Highlight resources available to those in need.
Inspire action—volunteering, donating, or spreading the word.
Just like the conversations you might have while sitting down to a shared meal, we hope Table Talk 101 will create a space for dialogue, learning, and connection.
How You Can Get Involved
Read and Share → by following our weekly posts on the Table Talk 101 Blog and share them on social media to raise awareness.
Volunteer → by joining us on Saturdays to serve meals and connect with neighbors.
Support the sustainability of SMB → by becoming a Saturday Sponsor and providing tools and nourishment to hundreds of local people.
We can break the cycle of food insecurity and build a stronger, healthier community where everyone has a seat at the table! Stay tuned for next week’s Table Talk 101 post, where we’ll explore more about how food insecurity affects children and families—and what we can all do to help.