Making meals for hurricane workers

[Tiggeroo]

I live right on the main business street in Ocean City. Unlike most of the businesses I am in very good shape. Most of my neighbors are tearing apart every bit of their businesses and homes. I am trying to organize a group of folks to make trays of food to give out to the people working. There aren't even any restaurants or sandwich places open if they wanted to spend the money and order. We are thinking of making easy things like trays of ziti. Attempting to get bread, salad and cookies donated and setting up a table with sterno trays to hand out food. If we can find a wagon we will deliver some meals to the further end of the street but that will be harder because we will have to pre-tray the food and deliver it without spilling it. Any tips or ideas. Does this seem like a good thing to do? I can't hang drywall or clean carpets but I can cook a tray of pasta.

 

[Southernmiss]

I live right on the main business street in Ocean City. Unlike most of the businesses I am in very good shape. Most of my neighbors are tearing apart every bit of their businesses and homes. I am trying to organize a group of folks to make trays of food to give out to the people working. There aren't even any restaurants or sandwich places open if they wanted to spend the money and order. We are thinking of making easy things like trays of ziti. Attempting to get bread, salad and cookies donated and setting up a table with sterno trays to hand out food. If we can find a wagon we will deliver some meals to the further end of the street but that will be harder because we will have to pre-tray the food and deliver it without spilling it. Any tips or ideas. Does this seem like a good thing to do? I can't hang drywall or clean carpets but I can cook a tray of pasta.

I am sure that will be well received. Sounds like what was done around here after Katrina. Things like this are well remembered and appreciated. My coworker who lost everything in Katrina still talks about the "hotdog man" who handed out hot dogs.

Maybe you can hand out flyers around and let them know your location and times you will be serving that way you don't have to transport the food to them.

 

[RitaZ.]

I was wondering how you were doing. I'm glad to know you're ok.

I think that's a great idea to provide food for your neighbors. When you have so much to do and clean up, it's nice to have a warm meal. Good luck with you efforts.

 

[Saphire]

That is a wonderful, thoughtful, helpful and amazing idea!!! I would stay with cold food, so it can be more portable and last for several hours. You could make sandwiches and wraps in every variation, put them in a sandwich bag and they will go anywhere. Let us know what you decide and how it goes!

 

[mrsksmithvt]

That is awesome! We had to rebuild after Irene last year and our local Rotary Club and the "Hot Dog Lady" and others set up grills on our street and cooked for home owners and the volunteers. Just cook what you feel comfortable cooking; as word spreads others will come and help you.

My only advice is if you are in a good spot stay where you are people will come to you. Word will spread between homeowners, volunteers, outside businesses, etc. I hope word spreads and you can get lots of donations. And Thank you for helping others.

 

[scrapquitler]

This is a wonderful idea! Anything you can make will be greatly appreciated, I am sure!

When I was helping cleanup after Irene in Vermont, the local high school was being used as a shelter, and people who had power or generators just started bringing food of all sorts to the shelter which was also the staging ground for volunteer workers. People who didn't have power brought the foods from their freezers that needed to be cooked before they went bad. The guy who runs the food services at the school and a bunch of people who worked in local restaurants pitched in and for about a week they just cooked all sorts of different foods (everything from burgers and hotdogs to pancakes,sandwiches, spaghetti, turkey dinner, etc) and anyone volunteering or just wanting some company or whatever was welcome to come and eat.

As someone else said, if you start, other people will probably just join in and help. Thanks for thinking of all the volunteers

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Glad to hear you are okay! We love OC dearly. My 3 yr old is very concerned about OC and "when it will feel better". Such a wonderful idea you have!

 

[shortbun]

The school kitchen for donations and a cooking center is a great idea if you can also find a way to distribute. After Irene, on Hatteras Island(which was on lock down by the Coast Guard and National Guard), a local restaurant cooked 3X a day and took the food to the Fire Station for people/volunteers to eat. The Inn at Pamlico Sound opened their rooms to people with no place and for showers. I believe they also cooked.
Tigeroo, you have a marvelous idea. Start with what you can do today and I bet others will pitch in and make it moveable. Make lots, I'd think everyone would be happy for a hot meal. If you can get your hands on some ground beef, protein is important for physical and mental health at a time like this. Thank you!

 

[java]

The kindness of strangers goes a long way. I am so happy to read this after the fight I witnessed at the gas station yesterday.

I would think grill would be easier than sterno. And I bet Costco or SAMs would donate burgers.

What a great idea that will be so appreciated.

 

[Mkrop]

This is an awesome idea...I think it will be well appreciated!

 

[anniemae]

thats a great idea! I immediately thought of sandwiches and wraps, which would be easier to make and transport, plus no utensils to worry about. On the other hand, a hot meal is soooooo comforting. Also, cookies/brownie type desserts would be a big hit too.

 

[PinballFamily]

Thanks for reporting in from OCNJ! How bad is it there? Still trying to track down my 92 year old grandmother - lives near 9th and Simpson. The police told me that neighbors said they saw her after the storm, with other neighbors but that she couldn't get back into her house - but I haven't heard from her and the Red Cross doesn't have her. All the info I can find via news and online is about Atlantic City...we're in New England.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

I remember the best gifts my friend received when she was going through her ruined home; a pair of flip flops and some food that someone threw on her drive way and took off.

My brother took his grill and a bunch of food and gave it out to homeowners struggling to make sense of the chaos.

Anyway, I guess I am saying don't forget about the homeowners going through their home.

 

[kimmar067]

I live right on the main business street in Ocean City. Unlike most of the businesses I am in very good shape. Most of my neighbors are tearing apart every bit of their businesses and homes. I am trying to organize a group of folks to make trays of food to give out to the people working. There aren't even any restaurants or sandwich places open if they wanted to spend the money and order. We are thinking of making easy things like trays of ziti. Attempting to get bread, salad and cookies donated and setting up a table with sterno trays to hand out food. If we can find a wagon we will deliver some meals to the further end of the street but that will be harder because we will have to pre-tray the food and deliver it without spilling it. Any tips or ideas. Does this seem like a good thing to do? I can't hang drywall or clean carpets but I can cook a tray of pasta.

....OMG, I wanted to do the very same thing! I already delivered a case of water to a check-in site for a local shelter, but I have no idea where I'd bring a try of food to.... I really, REALLY want to do that.....especially since I had the good fortune of my DH getting me some gas for my car, so at least now, I can drive somehwere....anyone have any suggestions?

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

I just saw this posted in FB. I had to screen shot it because I can't copy and paste from my phone.

http://instagr.am/p/RkzRHQlDb2/

 

[AuroraSheasMom]

My husban works on power lines and has been on storm since last Saturday. I can tell you that any food would be appreciated but a hot meal would e heaven for those guys. They get sandwiches I eat a lot on storm so a hot meal is hard to come by. After working a 16 hour day, a cold sandwich is nice but to get a hot (especially home cooked) meal would really be a huge pick me up.
One of the things my husband remembers most about storms besides the weather is the food. In Arkansas, on an ice storm they ate Applebee's every day for almost 2 weeks. Other storms all they were ever fed was sandwiches. In Baltimore last year, they only got sandwiches since all the hot food was gone because they were the last ones in (non union and worked lounger hours) plus they were cursed at and yelled at by residents. After Katrina, all my husband could talk about was the homemade gumbo and boudin he ate that a couple of older Cajun ladies fixed them.
So anything you could do food wise would be awesome. What they appreciate the most is just a simple, heartfelt "Thank you". After Baltimore last year and Irene this year in Louisiana and the way they were treated and talked to by residents, a Thank You would also lift their spirits.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Well I organized a small group of ladies and we delivered baked ziti, cookies , pretzals and a drink to the people working on our Main Street as well as a few displaced familie. I went we'll. I'm glad. Now we have a food center in our community center and a b&b so I took trays over there and volunteered to serve. Our small town is really coming together. There are organized committees to help clean up and many projects. If you want to volunteer or know sebody who needs help go o Facebook page ocnjshare. Info there.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

What a thoughtful thing to do.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I may be able to help. I know many local people. If you pm me her address and full name ill make inquiries. I know of several elderly people who are in local hotels such as PortOCall. We sent trays of food to one couple in their 90's who are determined to get a winter rental while their home is worked on.