Where have all the flowers gone?That’s a question some Bar and Bat Mitzvah guests have been asking as more and more party throwers replace costly, throw-away floral centerpieces with food baskets for the needy. It’s a concept that challenges the Keeping up with the Steins trend of families trying to outdo one another with outlandish party themes and decor that can send the budget past the fiddler and through the roof.
But eco catering and green consciousness-raising is changing all that. The Jewish Family Service of Seattle, which has volunteers who assemble baskets, deliver them to events and pick them up later, says its centerpiece program is flourishing.
"People are using them not just for Bar Mitzvahs but also for weddings, anniversaries and holiday celebrations in their homes," Director of Volunteer Services, Jane Deer-Hileman, explained to me.
Her program emphasizes the reusable aspect we at EcoSalon love. The program makes baskets containing faux fruit and empty food packages wrapped with decorative cellophane and French ribbon. Instead of using real goods, the service receives a donation from the family, then goes out and buys food wholesale to donate to the local food bank.
The program took in over 16 thousand dollars in such donations last year. "The only thing we spend money on is cellophane," explains Deer-Hileman. "We reuse the French ribbon by having a volunteer iron it for each event. I had the baskets made by a local basket maker who harvests willow branches. She is an organic farmer who strongly believes in food banks."
The Seattle agency is one of many such services throughout the country that deliver the baskets. Others with programs include the Westside Food Bank in Santa Monica, CA. and the Jewish Coalition for Literacy in San Francisco. Various synagogues also work with agencies to help families secure these green alternatives.
As I’ve set out to plan my own daughter’s Bat Mitzvah (October of 2009; whew!), I got to thinking about how food baskets are consistent with this beautiful right of passage, which emphasizes the Jewish notion of repairing the world, Tekkun olam.
In fact, kids who are undergoing their Torah study at "Congregation Emanu-El" in San Francisco participate in a Mitzvah Corps project, involving volunteer work at soup kitchens, food banks, and organic gardening plots grown for feeding the hungry. At Brandeis Hillel Day School, 7th graders set up a Mitzvah Fund with family financial contributions. The students participate in a social justice program teaching them how to distribute the funds to various local charities and shelters.
While as a designer I adore the glamour of stunning arrangements (I grew up learning to gelt the lily!), the cellophane baskets don’t take away from the table decor, but rather add depth. The Seattle agency even hired interior designer, Fran Hasson, to make their baskets flatter on the bottoms as well as sleeker and cleaner in presentation.
"They’re attractive, no question," observes Deer-Hileman. "We even keep the cellophane at the perfect height so you can see your dinner companions."
Mazel-tov!
Image: MikeOcampo