{"id":2035,"date":"2014-06-17T10:00:46","date_gmt":"2014-06-17T14:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womensministrytoolbox.com\/?p=2035"},"modified":"2017-02-20T12:48:54","modified_gmt":"2017-02-20T17:48:54","slug":"fellowship-food-fix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/womensministrytoolbox.com\/fellowship-food-fix\/","title":{"rendered":"Fellowship Food Fix"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Fellowship<\/a><\/p>\n

Food costs can quickly sink your Women\u2019s Ministry budget for an event.<\/p>\n

I know a team that grew tired of making food for every event so they decided to add a line to their budget.<\/p>\n

They budgeted around $125 for food from Sam\u2019s Club.<\/p>\n

Which is okay. Except this was for\u00a0a gathering of only about 25 women.<\/p>\n

Ya\u2019all that\u2019s at least $5 per person for snacks.<\/p>\n

For most of our budgets that’s too much…<\/p>\n

My heart sinks thinking about how half that money (really, more) could have been used to buy supplies for a Mission Project<\/a> or some other cause\u2026<\/p>\n

Asking your own women to bring food does two things:<\/h4>\n
    \n
  1. It encourages them to come to the event. Chances are they won\u2019t come alone, either. They\u2019ll ask a friend to meet them there.<\/li>\n
  2. It gives your women the opportunity to serve one another.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"Food<\/a><\/p>\n

    Why you should ask your women to bring food:<\/h4>\n
      \n
    1. They have great recipes to share! Aunt Ida\u2019s apple pie. Mama\u2019s famous cheese ball. Women will be begging for the recipes and lavishing them with compliments.<\/li>\n
    2. There is a group of women at your church that would love the excuse to try a new recipe \u2013 you can thank Pinterest<\/a>!<\/li>\n
    3. There are women who would love an\u00a0opportunity to cook for someone else. Not everyone has someone to cook for and not everyone\u2019s efforts are appreciated at home.<\/li>\n
    4. It will decrease your clean-up and set-up time when you use the plates and serving dishes the women bring.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      That being said, some women would stay home if you required them to bring a dish.<\/em><\/p>\n

      You need to build a Food Team.<\/h4>\n

      My 2-in-1 Door Prize\/Volunteer Form <\/a>is the easiest way I know to build volunteer teams.<\/p>\n

      You will also need to recruit a Food Team Leader<\/strong>. Your Food Team Leader will be responsible for calling the needed number of women 2 weeks prior to the event.<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Ask your women to bring something sweet, salty, or healthy.<\/li>\n
      • No need to take notes or pass a sign-up sheet – it almost always works itself out and if there\u2019s two of something it really isn\u2019t a big deal<\/em>.<\/li>\n
      • Set the gentle expectation that these women will stay for the event. I.E. \u201cWe\u2019re having a Fellowship next Friday night, could you come and bring a snack?\u201d<\/li>\n
      • Spread out the work and only ask each woman to help 2-3 times per year if possible. Keep track on a spreadsheet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        When your women bring food to your fellowships you get a great variety, give women the opportunity to serve, and keep your expenses to a minimum.<\/p>\n

        How do you handle food for your fellowships?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

        You may also want to read:<\/strong>
        \n        Addressing Diets and Food Allergies<\/a>
        \n        10 Tips for Serving Food Faster<\/a>
        \n        Food Bars<\/a><\/p>\n