A Friend in Need

Peace Family there are many times a small act of kindness can help a friend or church family member in need. Here are some practical tips from the website The Pioneer Woman written by her friend, Bridget Edwards. I have shortened, paraphrased and rewritten these to make it easier. Be the light in some family’s dark time!

Let me know what I can do to help. These are often the first words out of our mouths when we learn of a new baby, or a serious illness, or a death in the family. We WANT to help. But sometimes, we’re not sure how.

Here are a few ideas and tips for helping a friend in need.

Food. My mind always goes to food (in all circumstances).Ask when would be a good day to provide a meal, or suggest a specific day. Someone might feel uncomfortable asking for a meal, but will accept one if told that you’d like to “bring a meal next Thursday.”

Inquire about food allergies or special diets. Certain medications or treatments may call for avoiding certain foods.

Make dishes you’ve made before. This is not the time to experiment in the kitchen. (I like to save that for my own family.) Tried and true recipes are best.

If you provide a salad, bring the dressing on the side so that the greens don’t wilt. To avoid this, I like to bring veggies other than green salads. Marinated tomatoes are my go-to.

Provide cooking instructions as needed.

Go for disposable pans and trays, unless you’re prepared to part with your Tupperware. Be sure to let your recipients know that you don’t want the containers returned.

Arrange to drop off the meal in a certain window of time, so the family knows when to expect you and can plan their meal.

When dropping off, don’t overstay your welcome. A quick hello, hug, and drop-off of the food will keep the recipient from feeling as though they have to clean for or entertain company.

Along those lines, if you’re providing a meal for friend who will be receiving meals on an ongoing basis, suggest they leave a cooler on the front porch where they can receive meals when unable to come to the door.

Speaking of food, don’t forget about breakfast!

Having a stockpile of breakfasts on hand might just save a new mom’s sanity, or give a frazzled family one less meal to think about. Try homemade frozen waffles, muffins, an egg casserole, or breakfast burritos. Write reheating instructions on the package.
Paper products. This may seem strange, but paper products can be a lifesaver. After a funeral, there are lots of visitors … and lots of food. A few days later, you will be in need again of paper products. A stash of paper towels, toilet paper, Kleenex, napkins, and paper plates can give a grieving or overwhelmed family one less thing to think about.It might feel a little awkward bringing a friend a pack of toilet paper, but you can make it fun. Put a big bow on top and leave it on the front porch. I’ve done it! It’s the new way to TP a house.

While you don’t need to provide ALL of these items at once, they’re just a few ideas to bring to a friend in need. Is anyone else humming “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” right now?

There is just a few ideas, Peace Family, on how you can help friends in need. It will mean more to them than you will ever know!

Check out more tips at: http://thepioneerwoman.com/

Let me know what I can do to help. These are often the first words out of our mouths when we learn of a new baby, or a serious illness, or a death in the family. We WANT to help. But sometimes, we’re not sure how.

Here are a few ideas and tips for helping a friend in need.

Food. My mind always goes to food (in all circumstances).Ask when would be a good day to provide a meal, or suggest a specific day. Someone might feel uncomfortable asking for a meal, but will accept one if told that you’d like to “bring a meal next Thursday.”

Inquire about food allergies or special diets. Certain medications or treatments may call for avoiding certain foods.

Make dishes you’ve made before. This is not the time to experiment in the kitchen. (I like to save that for my own family.) Tried and true recipes are best.

If you provide a salad, bring the dressing on the side so that the greens don’t wilt. To avoid this, I like to bring veggies other than green salads. Marinated tomatoes are my go-to.

Provide cooking instructions as needed.

Go for disposable pans and trays, unless you’re prepared to part with your Tupperware. Be sure to let your recipients know that you don’t want the containers returned.

Arrange to drop off the meal in a certain window of time, so the family knows when to expect you and can plan their meal.

When dropping off, don’t overstay your welcome. A quick hello, hug, and drop-off of the food will keep the recipient from feeling as though they have to clean for or entertain company.

Along those lines, if you’re providing a meal for friend who will be receiving meals on an ongoing basis, suggest they leave a cooler on the front porch where they can receive meals when unable to come to the door.

Speaking of food, don’t forget about breakfast!

Having a stockpile of breakfasts on hand might just save a new mom’s sanity, or give a frazzled family one less meal to think about. Try homemade frozen waffles, muffins, an egg casserole, or breakfast burritos. Write reheating instructions on the package.

While you don’t need to provide ALL of these items at once, they’re just a few ideas to bring to a friend in need. Is anyone else humming “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” right now?

There is just a few ideas, Peace Family, on how you can help friends in need. It will mean more to them than you will ever know!