| With the economy in it's present state, there are | | | | Step 3 - Find partners |
| many, many people in need. It is a tough, but | | | | If you are working through your church, try an |
| rewarding undertaking. In addition to just feeding | | | | partner with another church. If it is your business, |
| the hungry, you will be giving them hope that | | | | look for another business. There is a lot of work |
| someone truly does care about them. If done in a | | | | involved and the more people involved the better. |
| deliberate and organized fashion, a feed the | | | | One thing that happens to many volunteer groups |
| hungry program will not only be a blessing to | | | | is that the leaders and the ones doing most of |
| those that you are feeding, but yourself and the | | | | the work will get burned out. This type of |
| volunteers also. If you feel a calling to start a | | | | program like most others adheres to the "80%, |
| program to feed the hungry, here are some | | | | 20% rule" 80% of the work will be done by 20% |
| steps that you can take to help you make it | | | | of the people. This is unfortunate, but it is just the |
| successful. | | | | way that most group dynamics work out. |
| Step 1 - Identify the need | | | | Step 4 - Identify a home base |
| Scout out areas where you think that there will | | | | You will need a place to store your equipment, to |
| be people that will need your help. It might take | | | | stage your food and many other things that will |
| some time to find the right spot, but you will | | | | come up at time goes on. It will make life much |
| know when you do. If you are in a downtown | | | | easier and less stressful if you have a dedicated |
| area, you can look for a place that is away from | | | | area that contains your equipment. If you do not |
| homeless shelters and missions. For whatever | | | | have room, try asking some local businesses if |
| reason, there are many hungry/homeless that do | | | | you can use some of their warehouse space to |
| not use the services of these shelters. | | | | store your equipment. You will be surprised to see |
| Step 2 - Identify your resources | | | | how many businesses will be glad to help |
| You will not only need the food to feed people, | | | | something like this. But you won't know unless |
| but you will need people to help you feel them. An | | | | you ask. Organization is a priority for this |
| excited and dedicated group of volunteers is | | | | undertaking. A central repository for supplies goes |
| essential. There is so much work and planning that | | | | a long way toward making sure that things go |
| needs to be done, you cannot every have | | | | smoothly. |
| enough volunteers. In addition to food, you will | | | | Step 5 - Try it out on a small scale. |
| also need tables, chairs and a storage area. Then | | | | A program like this can be overwhelming. If |
| there is the transportation needs. You will need to | | | | possible, try your feeding program on a small |
| get your food, chairs, tables and volunteers to | | | | scale. Maybe try a run-through at your church or |
| the site where you are going have your program. | | | | with the organization that you are working with. |
| When accumulating resources, more is definitely | | | | This will help you work out any challenges before |
| better. | | | | you go "live". |