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Dear Members & Friends of Rejoice,
When there is an emergency, we all want to help but we don't always know what to do. Meal train is a website that Rejoice is using to coordinate the needs of the Hayes family with those willing to offer hands-on help. Your pastors are inviting you to sign-up to help the Hayes Family by registering with a website called Mealtrain.com. We want to assure you that this is an efficient and effective way to coordinate the needs of the family with the help offered. To put your mind at ease, I've included some additional information about Mealtrain.com below. Our anticipated launch date is Sunday evening November 2, 2014.
Between now and then we will get details of the needs of the Hayes Family and update the mealtrain calendar. In the meantime, they'll have some time to eat all the food that's already been given to them, which by the way, is a LOT! So thanks for your patience in advance as we begin this journey as a community that shows it's love in concrete ways.
Peace,
Pastor Tim
Pastor Tim's Edited FAQ's:
What is a meal train?
A meal train is the coordinated giving of meals around significant life events like births, illness, or surgery.
Why set-up a meal train?
Help with meals and other needs makes life a little easier and allows the people of Rejoice and the greater Clearwater Community to assist the Hayes family during this difficult time.
What is mealTrain.com?
mealTrain.com is a free website that simplifies the organization of setting up a meal train. Rejoice has subscribed to the MealTrain Plus service (for a small monthly fee) which will allow the Hayes family to add other needs to the calendar like rides, childcare, housework, appointments, etc. This subscription will also allow Rejoice to use this cool service to organize other events!
Is it hard to do?
Not at all. In a few simple steps, you can create an account and start bringing meals or signing-up to help with other things at times when you are available.
Why do I need to create an account?
To sign-up to bring a meal or help in other ways, you'll have to create a free user account on MealTrain.com. The reason is privacy. Meal trains contain personal information so to ensure that everyone viewing the meal train has been invited, each person who wants to help will need to create an account. In addition, having a user account allows you to:
- Book or cancel a meal
- See what special requests the Hayes family has made
- Receive a reminder email
- Subscribe to the journal (similar to CaringBridge)
- Post to the guest book
- Display all of the meal trains in which you have been invited to participate.
The Mealtrain.com website takes privacy very seriously and WILL NEVER share or sell personal information. Meal train information is not public.
How does mealTrain.com work?
The primary organizer of the Hayes family meal train is Pastor Tim, however Sarah's friend Becky Reiter will be working with Sarah to post the Hayes family requests to the website. Pastor Tim will simply act as a technological advisor and Rejoice contact person. Invitations to participate are sent through email or facebook, but the best way to sign-up to help is to GO HERE and follow the instructions in the email inviting you to participate.
How do I book a date on the Hayes Family meal train?
Once you receive the unique web address for the Hayes family meal train, click it or copy and paste it in the browser bar. Then, proceed to the Calendar tab where available dates will have a button next to it that shows Book This Date.
Will I get a reminder email?
Yes! mealTrain.com sends a reminder email one day before the scheduled delivery.
Can I change my booked meal date?
Sure. From the Calendar tab, select the "Cancel" button next to your meal. The meal recipient will receive notification of the change and you can book a different date.
What if I realize at the last minute that I cannot deliver a meal?
Please call the meal recipient to let them know you won't be making the scheduled delivery. Don't worry too much, left-overs are common!
How can I remove my name from a meal train?
On the My Meal Trains page, click the red X to the right of the meal train and follow the instructions.
Why does it say edit/cancel next to the date I just booked?
This is a way for you to come back and make changes to your meal description or date.
How can I participate if I do not live near the recipient?
You can sign up to receive updates from the journal, post a message to the guestbook, book a night and schedule local food delivery (just remember to pay for and tip in advance), send restaurant gift card, or send flowers. I would like to participate but the dates and times don't fit my schedule. Send an email to the recipient and offer to drop off a bundle of essential groceries to save the recipient a trip to the store.
Do you have cooking suggestions?
Any act of generosity will be appreciated. Just try to make something that you would enjoy receiving. Also, meals that can be frozen or heated easily are always appreciated to be used in the future.
I have difficulty finding time to cook but really want to deliver a home cooked meal. Any ideas?
Double a favorite recipe and bring half to the meal recipient. Another option is the next time you make a big meal, freeze half in anticipation of a future meal train.
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Helping the Hayes Family with Meals & Other Stuff 
