Take Them A Meal

WELLNESS | by VALERIE GRIFFITH

THERE’S SO MUCH TO ORGANIZE WHEN A LOVED ONE or close friend becomes ill. One of the best ways family and friends can help is by setting up a rotation for the delivery of meals. Easing the burden of shopping for and preparing food can be a priceless gift both for the person who is ill and her caretakers. And providing nourishing, wholesome meals during a crisis offers concerned supporters and co-workers an opportunity to do something that is as thoughtful as it is useful.

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Organizing this kind of community effort is easier than ever in the digital age vis-à-vis sites like TakeThemAMeal.com, an online tool specifically designed to coordinate the delivery of meals to a loved one. This brilliant little site is free and easy to navigate. The “coordinator” simply fills out an online form with pertinent information about the recipient – her food preferences, address, optimal drop-off time, etc. – and provides the email addresses of those who expressed interest in helping out.

In turn, potential participants receive an email directing them to a dedicated online scheduling calendar where they can read about the recipient’s preferences and sign up for a day or days to deliver food.

Best of all, participants receive an email reminder the day before they’re scheduled to deliver a meal.