Fat in A Coffee Jar On Your Grandma's Stove? Why?

In April of 1942 Eleanor Roosevelt wrote a reminder for housewives to keep their cooking "fat" and turn it in for the use of the government.  Japanese cut off much of the import of oils and fats during the war years and it was needed for battle.

Fats contains glycerine, glycerine makes gunpowder, explosives and medicines.  The woman at home on the homefront wondered what she could do to help?  This was it.  Cans of fat were to be turned in to help the war efforts.  With everything being rationed these war years, including gas, oil and butter housewives used it daily to cook for their family.

When I was growing up in the South, there was always a can at my Grandma's stove and a can on my mother's stove.  It looked grayish white and tasted bland but salty.  But when your Grandma put a dollop in everything from gravy to vegetables, it was delicious!  Yep that southern cooking, salt, pepper, sugar, and grease made everything delicious.

Housewives were saving the fat but they were not diligent in giving it to the government.

The can at our house is there still.

I wonder if Eleanor started that habit or if it was born from farm living as my folks all came from farms?  It is a good guess anyway.