One of the great things about the Relief Society is the way the sisters band together to take care of every little need. When there’s sickness, death or a new baby, one of the most common ways the sisters render service is by bringing in dinner. What a kind, compassionate thing to do for someone who might not be in a position to make a meal for themselves, for whatever reason.
If you are asked to bring in a meal, here are some tips for you to keep in mind.
1. The person making the assignment will generally tell you what time the family would like their meal brought in. This will help you be sure to catch them – if there is sickness and they have a doctor appointment, for instance, sticking with the requested time will help you get the food to them when they need it most.
2. You will also be told of any food allergies that might be present in the home.
3. As you decide what to make, keep in mind that the family in question doesn’t need a fancy, gourmet meal. They need something nourishing, that tastes good and will give them the strength to face the trials they’ve been given. You don’t need to spend time poring over your French cookbooks – whatever hearty meal your family enjoys will be a good choice.
4. When you deliver the food, plan to only stay for a minute. If there’s a new baby, of course you’re tempted to visit, but it’s best if you come back another time.
5. As much as possible, deliver the food in disposable containers. A green salad does very well in a Ziplock bag. A casserole can be put in a tinfoil pan. The fewer dishes that need to be returned, the better. If you do take a dish you need back, label it clearly. A return address label is a great tool in a case like this. Keep in mind, this family will probably have three meals brought in to them, and they don’t need the confusion of sorting through what dish belongs to what person.
6. Unless you’ve been asked not to, plan on bringing a dessert. During times of stress or great excitement, people like having a sweet. And chocolate is almost always welcome . . .
Sometimes, the assignment to bring in a meal can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Keep the meal plan simple. You can even just make twice as much of what you’re planning to feed your own family … unless your family is getting peanut butter sandwiches, in which case, maybe not.
We might also feel that we can’t afford to take a meal in to someone. I’ve been asked to provide many a meal, and there have been times where I resented it because we didn’t have much to share. But I will tell you this. Every time I’ve taken food in to a family, I’ve never been sorry. We’ve never suffered from sharing what we have. In fact, I truly believe that the Lord helped us to stretch what we had a little further as a result of our being willing to share.
It is such a blessing in the lives of these families when we give of ourselves and bring in dinner. Having been on the receiving end of these meals as well as the giving end, I know how very much it means to know that someone is going out of their way for me, that I don’t have to worry about feeding my family that night, that I can just concentrate on getting well. The Relief Society is truly an inspired organization and I encourage you to sustain your leaders by doing whatever they ask you to do, even if it’s something as simple as bringing in a meal.
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