Cancer stinks, no doubt about it. The reality is that all of us will experience some impact from this awful disease; if it’s not us or our family, it’s someone we know or know of. The closer it is, the deeper the impact. Once you’ve been through it or watched it, you’ll never be the same. Your heart will ache when you hear the word. However, there is always a way to give and feel HOPE. You may need it yourself or you may need to share it. The fact is, the ups and downs of the ‘cancer road’ is smoother when people feel supported.
However, receiving can be hard. Pride and dignity can put on a brave front, but everyone yearns to feel and be supported. I get it. My family has experience; with both sad outcomes and good ones. My Father-in-Law fought cancer for 6 years and my Mother-in-Law for 12 months, before they lost their battles. However, we’ve had other family and friends beat it. Most recently, I had two friends diagnosed with breast cancer within a month of each other; thankfully, their prognosis looks good but, they have a long road ahead of them. Through these experiences, we often had to talk these people into letting us help them. They never wanted to impose on others, but I saw the gratitude well up inside them when support, of all kinds, was given. The gestures, big or small, all helped beyond words.
I know there are tons of suggestions on how to support people with cancer. After seeing support coordinated through Food Tidings for years and having some very authentic conversations with people I deeply respect, I wanted to share some recent take-aways. So, whether it’s October “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” or any other month, we want to make sure you have some meaningful, tangible ways to support others, make it easier for them to “receive” and GIVE HOPE.
That is the essence of Food Tidings – to give ‘comfort & joy’; and hope.
Let’s make it a HOPE STORY, more than a cancer story.
Tiding Tip: Ask Multiple Times
It’s common for people to refuse help, at first. Be sure to ask 2-3 different times to help get past any humble hesitation to accept assistance and/or to allow them time to hone in on what will be the most helpful. It may take them awhile to sort out their needs, so be sure to keep checking in and (gently) asking multiple times.
Tiding Tip: Rally Near & Far
Quickly rally many people, near and far, with a Food Tidings Schedule. With options to make food, send food, have local restaurant food delivered (where available) or give money to pool toward expenses, everyone can lend a hand in a way that fits their time and budget, while meeting the needs of the family.
Tiding Tip: Groceries Made Easy
Schedule Grocery Delivery from a Food Tidings schedule, it really can be that easy.
Tiding Tip: House Cleaning
Some families may be bashful about the state of affairs at their house. Let’s face it, something has to give, right? Assure them you won’t “judge” before you come to help (and actually, don’t judge) – OR skip any awkwardness and enlist a professional who can be a ‘neutral person’ to come in, clean up and leave without it being weird. Food Tidings can assist in coordinating House Cleaning Services, an easy gift to add to a Schedule or to pitch in for.
Tiding Tip: Action Speaks Louder than Words
BE AN ORGANIZER. It really is a simple job, taking only moments of your time, but is one of the biggest impacts you can have. Organizers are the biggest advocates for Recipients. Not only are they truly the ‘heart’ of Food Tidings, but the hands, feet and a caring ‘loud speaker’, too! Having the Organizer ask for the real needs of a family eases a huge burden for them. Use a Food Tidings Schedule to humbly and graciously direct Participants in multiple ways that will meet a family’s needs, without having to ask for it themselves.
Tiding Tip: Plan for the Long Road
There is often a lot of help at the beginning that tapers off in the middle or toward the end of treatment; which is when cancer fighters are actually the most exhausted. Chances are, a person will be in more need of support toward the end of treatment, but more hesitant to ask. Plan to spread out or refresh the efforts so that an entire treatment timeline is covered. A celebration or nice meal to mark milestones, is always a nice touch, too!
We hope this list gives you some new perspective and/or inspires you to come up with your own ideas to support someone you know. HOPE is always in style, so give it away freely.
rally the troops to show they aren’t alone
Food Tidings Contributor
I loved FoodTidings.com at first sight. My husband and I had the opportunity to join the Food Tidings team in 2011 as Partners, after meeting the original co-founders at our church. I have a Bachelors in Public Administration from the University of Arizona (Go Wildcats!) and a Masters in Health Services Administration/Strategic Planning & Marketing from The George Washington University. We planned my early retirement from the market 3 kids in and was blessed with a 4th to complete us; finishing with 2 boys & 2 girls. Our oldest is now launched, happily married and proudly serving in the Air Force, one is in college (adding a Wildcat to the family), while the two at home keep us on our toes, amazed and inspired. As a full-time Wife and Mom, this website is my side-gig that serves as a personal ministry for our family. Seeing caring communities created, hope spread and generosity in action continues to be a motivator for all of us. Matt 5:16
Don’t you love meeting kindred spirits? While I had never actually met the people at the Joy Bus Diner, as soon as I saw their tagline, “Making our valley a happier place one meal at a time” and their mission to deliver meals to cancer patients, I knew we must be kindred spirits.
In fact, something kept drawing me to their work; from a Costco magazine write up to social media posts, I kept running into them; so I had to find out more. They are a local Arizona organization, the birthplace of Food Tidings and our home base for operations. While their service is targeted to a specific area in Phoenix, it’s too good not to share with everyone. At the very least, I hope others will be inspired to create a “community that cares” in their local area; a goal that Food Tidings and The Joy Bus mutually share.
The Joy Bus is a Not for Profit organization whose sole purpose is to relieve the daily struggles of homebound cancer patients with a fresh Chef Inspired meal and a friendly face. Like Food Tidings, The Joy Bus aims to relieve the burden put on families during this time. Seems like a match made in “meaningful meals” heaven, right?
“The Joy Bus is a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh, chef-inspired meals, social support, and nutrition education at no cost to homebound cancer patients within a 10 mile radius of 32nd Street and Shea Blvd in Phoenix. We deliver a meal each Friday and the meal is just half the fun, our clients also get paired with an awesome volunteer who is there for them to chat with and help in anyway they can. If a potential client is located outside of our delivery radius we do encourage them to still reach out as we try to make small exceptions wherever we can.”
TheJoyBusDiner.com
While The Joy Bus provides meals once a week, this is where Food Tidings complements their efforts. A Food Tidings meal schedule allows family, friends and co-workers to organize and rally, both near and far, to support cancer patients with meals they may need at other times. Being “kindred spirits”, my hope is that we both continue to serve as a resource to inspire, encourage and support cancer patients and their families, all week long.
Knowing people care about you can do wonders in the process of cancer treatment. All it takes is one person to get rolling; on “The Joy Bus” and/or with a “Food Tidings” meal schedule. Just imagine the difference we can make, together!
If you or someone you know in the local, Phoenix area can benefit from their services, I hope you’ll jump on board and check them out. Whether you need assistance or not, you can support The Joy Bus mission by stopping by The Joy Bus Diner and enjoying a meal that pays it forward; as all proceeds support The Joy Bus operations.
Let’s keep making meals meaningful and enjoy the ride, as we spread tidings of food, comfort and joy.
More details:
Support them with a free FoodTidings schedule.
Food Tidings Blog Contributor
I loved FoodTidings.com at first sight. My husband and I had the opportunity to join the Food Tidings team in 2011 as Partners, after meeting the original co-founders at our church. I have a Bachelors in Public Administration from the University of Arizona (Go Wildcats!) and a Masters in Health Services Administration/Strategic Planning & Marketing from The George Washington University. We planned my early retirement from the market 3 kids in and was blessed with a 4th to complete us; finishing with 2 boys & 2 girls. Our oldest is now launched, happily married and proudly serving in the Air Force, while the three at home keep us on our toes, amazed and inspired. As a full-time Wife and Mom, this website is my side-gig that serves as a personal ministry for our family. Seeing caring communities created, hope spread and generosity in action continues to be a motivator for all of us. Matt 5:16