Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Tasty Tuesday ...Food Tidings

Today I just want to share a quick food tip. Few areas of life have remained untouched by the technology of the internet. This is an example of how the internet is being used to minister to people in need.


Remember how when someone had a baby, experienced a loss, had surgery, or moved ... we made 57 phone calls, left messages, repeated the information 69 times (that's 12 extra for people who asked to repeat it again), and then hoped lasagna wasn't sent too many nights in a row?


That doesn't have to happen anymore! Gals from our church now use a website to create easy to use sign ups for meals to be delivered to those in need. When one of our staff wives first started using Food Tidings, I was so amazed, (Jess at Not Your Average Mommy) and she started a great trend that has been so helpful. It's a wonderful and free resource I hope you'll check out.


Start the trend where you live. Someone is sure to be expecting, starting to feel lousy, packing boxes, or having their kitchen remodeled ... or you could be next and benefit from your organized "Food Tidings" friends. Great things to add to a meal you deliver to a friend:

  • a package of fun napkins to make tired, ill, or new people feel better
  • a package of paper plates to spare friends some clean up
  • a card with the "menu" written on it
  • a package of coffee for a single pot
  • a box of tissues or tea, if you're reaching out to a friend with a cold

Enjoy! Maybe next week, I'll give you a lasagna recipe for when you're on the meal schedule ;)

Do you have a food organization web resource that works well for you?


8 COMMENTS ~ Click here to leave a COMMENT:

New York Mary said...

Facebook can be a terrific resource to organize this kind of thing too, with others posting which day they are covering and what they are making. If one person is willing to be the go-to person for meal needs, they can start a food group (a group can be established on FB for zillions of reasons! And it's not hard to do.), and invite others in their church/neighborhood/etc. to join it. That way needs/info can be shared rapidly and group members can participate/not participate according to their own desires and schedule. Recipes can be shared or whatever the group decides they want to share with each other. It's fun! Only thing is that some may not have a computer or use FB. Then other methods of connecting are used. -- New York Mary
PS - love your blog, Julie. We share a friend (another Julie who is in your church's women's ministry team!

Lisa said...

Thanks for the share! We have a young mom in our church who organizes meals for moms with new arrivals. She does very well with it by email, but there have been a few glitches. This could be just what she needs!

Kristi Stephens said...

Oh, thanks for the tip, Julie! I've been using carecalendar.org for a couple of years now for families in our ABF - I LOVE it. So, so, so much easier than phone calls or even email!

Morgan Maria I said...

How amazing! Thanks for this awesome resource, Julie! I could totally relate to making a zillion phone calls and trying to sort through menus as to what people were bringing. Ugh! This tool appears to be just the thing! Thanks again for sharing! God bless! :)

Orosco99 said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for your great blog and for being wonderful YOU :-) Love, JLC

Unknown said...

What a fantastic idea. I am going to share this information with my MOPS group!

Karen said...

Sounds like a neat program! I'll have to check it out.

Hope you have a wonderful day!
Karen

Lisa said...

Hi Julie!
Thank you so much for posting about Foodtidings- we're honored that you'd be so kind to share about it, and that you are using it to minister to others in their time of need. What you wrote about all the time and energy it used to take to create a meal schedule was so true for me too. That's why we created foodtidings- to simplify this process and make it even easier to help others! It's been so amazing to watch how it has been such a blessing for so many people.

We just had our fourth child 5 weeks ago, and our friends and family have been bringing meals to us. It's so awesome- just one less thing to think about during this crazy and sleepless transition from having 3 kids to 4. :)

Anyways, thank you again for getting the word out about us, and please let us know if you ever have any questions, suggestions, or stories of how Foodtidings has helped someone. Have a wonderful day, and by the way I love your blog!
In Him,
Lisa Shepherd (co-founder of Foodtidings, lisa@foodtidings.com)

PS- GREAT ideas of how to make the meal you bring extra special for others- ie: package of fun napkins, tea or box of tissues for someone who is sick, etc. I love these! Do you mind if I give a little shout out to you on our blog and post your ideas on our facebook page?