In the Fox household, cooking serves as a love language.
The Columbus family often whips together meals and desserts with each other, but in recent weeks the clan has racked up the hours in the communal location.
The Foxs are trying to spread kindness during the COVID-19 pandemic one lasagna at a time.
During a recent Zoom meeting with Athens Church, where the family attends, Students’ Fund of Hope President Whitney Budd told the congregation about a free food and prescription pickup service being offered to residents 55 and older.
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From March 17 to April 11, the effort had grown to more than 40 volunteers, who are handling between 10 and 20 requests daily for the service initially organized by the Students’ Fund of Hope.
The message inspired Maggie Fox to take action.
Over the past few weeks, Maggie and her daughters Miley, 10, Abby, 7, and Alivia, 7, have been making and delivering food to area seniors.
"The girls and I all like to cook, and we home school so we do a lot of home economics at our house," Maggie said. "We’ve done things like chicken and noodles and lasagna. When there was a sale around Easter, we made ham dinners. We do whatever can be easily taken and reheated."
Maggie said that the four are making 10 to 20 meals per week depending on the need, and that the food is going to a couple of older gentlemen in the downtown area as well as some neighbors who are shut-in.
Most of the cooking takes place during the daytime when Maggie’s husband, Aaron, is working at Columbus Regional Hospital as a radiology technologist.
When the food is done, the family drops it off at the homes of the individuals.
"If we’re already home and cooking anyways, why not try to find someone around you who might benefit from it? Take them a meal as well," Maggie said.
By dropping off meals, it also offers an opportunity for the family to connect with those who are staying at home during the pandemic.
"Many are lonely. Many are sitting around at home," Maggie said. "One of the men that I deliver to just has a TV. I don’t think he has a cell phone or computer or anything. When I call and tell him that I will be stopping by to drop off food, you can hear it in his voice that he’s excited to be seen and heard that day. It’s good to make connections with people and encourage them."
Maggie said that she’s also trying to help her kids learn life lessons through the cooking and baking.
"They are learning at an early age to find, see, and fill a need," she said. "They’re also serving others. We are trying to instill servent-hood in them. It’s awesome to see."
Miley said she enjoys baking chocolate cake, and that she likes helping others because it’s a nice thing to do. Abby and Alivia, who are twins, often help chop foods while also manning the dishwasher.
Maggie, who works as a photographer, said she posts photos of food on her social media accounts to help encourage others to donate their time to helping others.
"If everyone could help with one extra person, we could really reach a lot of people," Maggie said.
The tight-knit unit plans to continue to work hard make meals for the foreseeable future.
"We should open a restaurant one day," Maggie joked.
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If you are or know a person 55 and older who has no other person to pick up essentials from stores, pharmacies or other facilities, a group of volunteers are willing to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the group is based in Hope, organizers say they will pick up and deliver essential items throughout Bartholomew County.
If you need this service or have questions, call or text 812-350-2526.
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