Cyndi, never worry about asking questions - that's what we're here for. Go ahead and feed it; it should be fine. Sourdough is actually very versatile, and its pH will change continually over time - which is no problem. And sure, you can discard 1 cup, but then give it a double feeding for awhile (2 cups flour, i cup water); that will build the volume. Or you can feed/discard as usual, but instead of discarding, refrigerate each day's discard in a separate container, refrigerate them, then give each lady a container with feeding instructions. If you give them away within a week, they should be good to go with a few feedings. Good luck - PJH

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