Why I Started 72 Hour Kit Food Packets

Years ago I received a food packet to start my 72 hour kit. Over the years I have rotated the food every April and added packets as children were added to our family. A few years ago I mentioned to some neighbors that I was ready to rotate the food in my 72 hour kit and they wanted to make food kits for themselves. The next year more neighbors became involved and last year we made over 200 kits! Thanks to my computer savvy husband, who made a program for me, it was easy to figure out the quantities I needed for all those kits. So many of my neighbors mentioned how their friends and family wished someone would do this in their neighborhood that I realized there was a need to provide food packets for more than just my neighbors.

The kits changed over the years depending on availability of the products and cost. I tried to keep down the cost as much as possible but include as many calories and protein as I could. I looked at many of the commercial 72 hour kits for ideas and wondered if that would be better, but I realized that my children wouldn't eat something that wasn't familiar to them in a stressful situation and I don't know if my body (let alone my children's bodies) could handle a 600 calorie protein bar. That is why I chose the food included in the food packets and not all of my children like everything in the packet, but there is enough to trade and share. The food packet should be rotated every year and my children love it because they get an entire bowl full of snacks. :)