Some years ago, we had what experts called a “storm of the century.” Rain poured down in sheets for hours. It was amazing to behold. But this rain, besides filling our reservoirs and river beds, also slammed into a massive burn scar in the hills above our neighborhood.

The result was a major, quickly moving mudslide, which washed a good chunk of one of the hills down into the streets of several neighborhoods. Our little town immediately got organized and dump trucks were dispatched to strategic locations, so neighbors could start filling sandbags as a means to prevent serious property damage.

One of these locations was just in front of our driveway. For two solid days dozens and dozens of neighbors gathered to our home to feverishly load thousands of sandbags that were then dispersed to all vulnerable locations.

I share this because of what we experienced beyond the grunt work of shoveling sand and hefting heavy bags onto flatbed trucks. All throughout these two days, strangers would roll up in their cars, open their trunks, and start passing out water, donuts, pizza, hamburgers, and so on, to very tired and hungry workers. The kindness and thoughtfulness lifted our weary spirits and gave us a burst of courage and energy that we all needed. I’d never seen anything like it before.

Ever since this event, I’ve thought a lot about how life can turn on a dime. And how we need to be more prepared so we can be more useful and thoughtful (like our generous angels were those two days of sand-bag-filling).

Thus, the theme of this article: a simple idea that can keep you at-the-ready “when stuff happens” and you want to minister in some small way to the needs of those going through the stuff.

I hesitate to share this, really, because I know our Cook’n readers are a prepared and thoughtful group of people. But in the off chance that anyone out there hasn’t thought of this, here goes: I suggest we keep a stash of homemade cookie doughs in the freezer. This practice makes it possible to very quickly and easily share a batch of freshly made, from-the-heart cookies to anyone in need.

There are a couple approaches to this idea. For one, you can wash and save frozen juice cans and pack them full of dough, then cover the open end with plastic wrap and secure with a rubber band. When ready to bake, use a can opener to remove the bottom of the can. Push this metal bottom up through the can and evenly slice your cookie rounds as the dough emerges from the container.

Or, you can just divide and roll your batch of dough into logs and lay them out on plastic wrap. I use a double layer and secure the wrap with masking tape, labeled with dough type and baking instructions.

I’ll close with a parting thought: Considering the uncertainty of life and the crazy track today’s world is on, maybe it would be wise to have a plan in place for “lifting the hands that hang down and strengthening the feeble knees.” A plate of homemade cookies might just soothe a soul!

And if you like the idea, here’s one of our favorite cookie doughs that always make folks happy, whatever the gifting occasion. But especially happy “when stuff happens.”

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