Gina's 2024 Birthday Fundraiser

I can still feel the texture of the peanut butter in my mouth. It was grainy and unpleasant. I've heard some people say the cheese was good; that it melted gooey and creamy, but I guess that memory didn't stick with me since I was only about 4 or 5 years old.

Momma, my brother, and I lived in a rented house with my aunt and cousin, in Bryan, Texas. Momma was a waitress, raising two kids, and to say things were tight is an understatement.
I can't say that I ever went hungry, but I know that we got commodities or "government" cheese and peanut butter, and food stamps somewhere around that time, and I know that we ate a lot of Maruchan ramen noodles. Now, to be honest, those are still comfort food to me today, although I dress them up a bit more. 

I never knew back then how tough things were for Momma, but looking back now I see the signs, and I can feel the tightness in my chest from the stress she must have constantly felt. 
I look at my daughter, 14 now, and feel blessed to have never had to feel that same worry (there have been plenty others but thankfully not that one in particular). I look at her as she plows down a steak or hamburger, and know that I am so fortunate not to have to wonder if she's hungry when she goes to bed - because if she is, that's her own damn fault because we've got plenty.

I don't remember going on a single field trip as a kid when my Momma didn't pack two lunches for me. I always thought it was so crazy to have to carry two lunches, but she explained to me that the chances of a kid in my class forgetting their lunch, or not having enough money to bring one were pretty high, and she didn't want anybody goin' hungry. FYI, there were multiple times I shared that second lunch. 
When Boog's friends come to the house these days, I'm constantly trying to get them to go to the kitchen and get something to eat, or even sending them home with food. 

I get that from my mom, and she gets it from her mom. You couldn't go to grandma's house without her practically force-feeding you. There was usually the smell of a pot of pinto beans cooking, or maybe some biscuits, and you weren't going to leave without having a bowl of something. Kid, grandkid, friend, neighbor, it didn't matter, you were getting fed. 

So, I see how it was passed down through the generations. And while it's an endearing quality, it's also sad - because I know what it stems from.
We know what it's like to go without, it's deep in our family history, and we don't want anyone to have to go through that. So we try to provide support in whatever ways we can, even if that just means a bowl of beans.

So, every year for my birthday, I run a fundraiser and donate to the Brazos Valley Food Banks, in hopes that I can help prevent someone from going to bed hungry. This year, I am matching donations from 3/1-3/28 (my birthday) of up to $500.00. Click on the BVFB link at the top of the page, make your donation, and enter Gina Prince in the "in honor of" section. That way they can run a report and know exactly how much they received from our fundraiser. 

The Brazos Valley Food Bank can provide 2 meals for every dollar donated. That means, my goal for this year is to help them provide no less than 2,000 meals. With the amazing community that we've built in Takin' the Backroads - I know without a doubt that it's a reality for this year. So happy birthday to me, and let's make it happen! *Cheers*

Peace, Love, and Tacos
Gina