Organizer Toolkit
Thank you for stepping up to be the leader of a support system! Planning a meal schedule or care calendar can seem overwhelming, but enabling tidings of comfort & joy are worth it; for you and them.
To streamline the process, we have developed a step-by-step guide for our Organizers to get started!
1.
Gather Information
Sometimes, the hardest part of any project is simply getting started. Below is a comprehensive list of the information to gather is order to fill out your friend/family members profile.
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Number of Adults
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Number of Children
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Food Likes
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Food Dislikes
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Dietary Restrictions or allergies
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Other Details
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Schedule (Start and end date or specific days needed)
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Recipient Names (First/Last)
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Recipient Email (best email to receive Gift eCards)
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Delivery Address (including Apt or Unit number)
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Best Delivery Time
In addition to this information, try to obtain a photo of the individual, couple or family the schedule supports. We highly recommend this, as schedules tend to be more successful when there is a visual representation of the family. You can request a photo from the Recipient, or simply request to screenshot or download one of their Facebook or social media photos. That approach makes it easiest on both of you!
2.
Create The Schedule
Once you’ve gathered the information from Step 1, creating your schedule on FoodTidings.com is simple. From the Home Page or your Dashboard, complete the easy “Create A Schedule” online form:
The Story
Share why the family can use support or encouragement and give dietary needs and/or food preferences. Meal suggestions, delivery services in the area or restaurant take out ideas are always appreciated. Also, be sure to include any details that are helpful, such as: letting the new parents & baby sleep by not ringing the door bell, leaving food in a cooler on the porch, if the family is up for visitors or not, etc.
Delivery Details
Select dates for the schedule, tell what drop off time is best and where to drop off or have meals delivered.
NOTE: It’s very important to double check the 1) Delivery Address (correct Street Number, Apartment Number, etc) and 2) Recipient’s Email; as this information is automatically used by Vendors for delivery of Shoppe purchases and Gift eCards.
Send Invites
Once finished, you’ll have several options to send or share the invitation to the schedule, officially rallying the support team.
3.
Promote The Schedule
Our experience shows that those most likely to participate in a Meal Support Schedule are those who know and/or have an emotional connection to the Recipient. Therefore, sharing via email or social media (eg. Facebook) has proven to be the best method of getting the word out. Don’t hold back. People are very often looking for a way to contribute, so be sure to give them the opportunity!
You can use our system’s “Invite” tool to send your invitations out, once the Schedule is complete and ready to share. Using the tool, available immediately after finishing the creation form and clicking “Complete”, you’ll enter or select the desired email addresses, add a personalized message and “Send”.
By using this tool, our system tracks the email addresses that you have invited to participate; allowing you to send future communications throughout the Schedule’s time frame. Don’t worry if you miss someone or think of another person to add, you can always send more invites out at any time from your Dashboard or the Schedule’s page.
Recipients are also able to “Invite Friends” from their Dashboard, under “Food Tidings I’m Receiving”.
Also, you may send the link to the Schedule via your personal email, as well. The link is provided on the “Invite” page, or you can copy the Schedule page’s URL from your browser. However, please be sure to remember who is on your invite list in case you’d like to refer to it in the future. If the invitations do not originate from our “Invite” tool, our system will only track emails/individuals as they sign up to participate on the Schedule; it will not maintain a complete invitation list if it is sent through your personal email.
Share Often!
Social media outlets are funny creatures. They may not show all of your posts to all of your friends, not to mention the fact that people have different habits of when they are online.
We recommend that you schedule posts, at various times in the day, once every other day for Schedules shorter than 2 weeks in length and once a week or so for Schedules longer than 2 weeks in length; until your Schedule is full. You don’t want to inundate your friends, of course, but you want to remind them and make sure everyone who might want to participate knows about the Schedule.
Private Message Select Friends/Family
Through Facebook or other social media’s direct message feature, you can ensure that people you know would want to participate don’t miss your posts about the Schedule by sending them a private message; sending it to as many friends as you would like, as a ‘group’ private message. Don’t forget to include the link to the schedule!
Encourage others to share the schedule with their network
If you wish, let others know that they can share the Schedule with their friends and family. There is often crossover between friends and groups, and sharing is a great way to get other community members near and far involved.
Need more help?
Food Tidings Etiquette Tips
Food Tidings Schedules are intended to provide ‘tidings of comfort & joy’, through food and other means. Let's avoid the awkward moments and create a warm, lasting memory for the family.
Here are some etiquette pointers to help. Feel free to share tips and drop hints to your friends and family.
Your Recipient will thank you.
Need Meal Inspiration?
Be sure to browse our Pinterest ‘tidings’ boards for favorite and useful recipes that are easy to transport and proven pleasers; including theme and holiday suggestions that add some flavor and pizzaz.