When someone you care about loses a loved one, the first instinct is often, “What can I do to help?” Here inIndianapolis, Greenwood, and Pendleton showing support often means food is on the way.
Take it from our staff at St. Pierre Family Funeral and Cremation Services, meals are a wonderful way to express care and meet a practical need. Throughoutour many decadeshelping families in Marion, Johnson, and Madison counties we have heard time and time again that gifts of food are remembered long after thefuneralis over.
Thanks to our years of experience, we’ve also accrued knowledge when it comes to the “do’s and don’ts” of walking alongside those who are grieving. Here are our top tips and suggestions to keep in mind:
- Oftentimes, if you give the option to drop off a meal, a family will protest or decline. They don’t want you to go through any trouble and may feel awkward accepting the offer. We recommend letting them know food is on the way, giving a few dates to choose from to drop off a meal, or simply leaving food on their doorstep if you’re sure they’re home. Along those lines, don’t plan to go inside to visit unless you’re sincerely invited and feel comfortable doing so.
- Pack food in containers that don’t need to be returned and be sure to communicate that you don’t need them back. You might also consider including napkins, a case of water bottles, silverware, and paper towels for easy cleanup.
- Avoid common or serious allergens (peanuts, shellfish) and foods people have strong opinions about (anything spicy, for example). Depending on dietary issues, you may also include a list of ingredients.
- Consider sendingthe family an order form of 3-5 meals to choose from. Many of ourGreenwood, Indianapolis, and Pendleton neighbors have shared that they’ve received “too many lasagnas to eat.” Allowing a selection from a variety of dishes may be appreciated.
- If the thought of preparing a meal creates stress, purchase a gift card to an area restaurant or coffee shop and include it with a sympathy card. It’s much more important to show support than show off your culinary skills. Plus, families can use the gift card at their convenience, even if this is weeks or months after the death.
- If there are directions for heating, serving, and storing extras, make sure they’re clearly labeled.
- Instead of bringing a meal for lunch or dinner, think about dropping off breakfast foods like an egg dish, bagels and cream cheese, or pastries (purchased or homemade). Another quick option is to put together a bag of groceries with ready-to-eat foods from the deli and pre-cut vegetables and fruit.
- Sometimes a family will be overloaded with food right after a death, so an easy-to-freeze dish is a good option. You might also consider waiting a few weeks to deliver food. The toughest times of the grief journey are often after the funeral is over and family has gone home – but the reality of the loss is just setting in.
The bottom line is that a grievingfamily will appreciate any assistance after a loss. If you’ve experienced the death of a loved one, you know how much it means to have people surround you, both literally and figuratively.
Our St. Pierre staff wants you to remember that we are always here to offer support. Take a look at ourgrief resourcesand ourinteractive grief support, andreach out to usany time by phone or in person. We are honored to be part of this community – and hope to be part of yours as well.
