The Chinese calendar may say that 2009 Year of the Ox, but as far as the Haug household is concerned; it’s the Year of the Pea.

Every year about this time, the Haug’s cozy west side home hosts a unique get together with a food donation theme. Friends of the Haugs - artist and graphic designer Doug Haug, his wife Pat and their adult son Ryan - watch their mail for the coveted invitation to find out this year’s designated canned good. This year’s envelope arrived with a stamp that said “Pray for Peas,” and their prayers were answered in the form of generous donations of canned peas for Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado.

Open house a thirteen year tradition
They held their first Care and Share annual open house in 1997. “We collected just about anything folks wanted to donate,” says Doug Haug. “Care & Share was pleased with the donations, but indicated that large contributions of individual items would work better for them, so Pat and I started to work on themes.”

Starting in 1998, the first themed open house asked for donations of powdered milk. Since then, they have collected tuna, beans, macaroni and cheese, toasted oats cereal (Cheerios,) fruit, spaghetti, corn, stew, beans and soup. “Over the years, we’ve collected about 4,450 pounds of food, plus an unknown amount of cash donations (we don't ask) for items such as Doug’s yearly poster,” adds Pat Haug.

Family “peased” with this year’s donation results
This year Doug and Pat delivered more than 775 pounds of peas and approximately $550.00 in checks and cash to Care and Share. “We never ask for a receipt because it isn't our donation. It is all about raising awareness among our circle of friends about Care and Share's mission. We hope that reading about our yearly event will inspire other readers to do this sort of thing in their neighborhood,” Doug concludes.

About Care and Share
Care and Share Food Bank is the region’s largest hunger-relief organization. As southern Colorado's regional distribution hub for locally and nationally donated and purchased food, Care and Share provides food to more than 400 member agencies who serve hundreds of thousands of people in need. For more information or to become involved call 528-1247 or go to http://www.careandshare.org