S/O Bowl returning etiquette

[Carrie Sue]

I wish that people who bring food would bring it in disposable containers OR not worry about it if the dish gets lost. I had 2 ladies from church hound me about one of their pans last year...and I was in the middle of recovering from a dissected aorta/near death/almost-got-a-heart-transplant situation. It was months before I felt normal, and even longer before I had my mental faculties back online. I really didn't need the stress of wondering what happened to the bowl I had given my mom to take back to the church (which she did). I so appreciated the meals...the ladies brought 3 meals a week for at least 3 months...but those pans and bowls...UGH! I had another lady ask me months later on fb what happened to her cake pan--the 30 year old one with dents all over? I found it at my mom's house...but, really, people?

 

When I make a meal, I will from now on make sure it's in a disposable container and if it isn't, I'll consider the container a gift! :)

[Ottakee]

Disposables make it easy. Another option if you are the one making the meals is to pick up super cheap older dishes at thrift stores/garage sales, etc. if you go to those things. They are sturdier than the disposables and often just about as cheap if not cheaper. You could even use black sharpie marking on the dish stating "No need to return".

[gardenmom5]

It is always nice if people can bring their item in a disposable container - or one they can live without. that isn't always possible.

 

small disposable containers are inexpensive - but there are those with extrememly tight finances for whom even that would be a stretch of their budget. small disposable containers come with some items people purchase regularly - but they are still small. usually only a quart. (which is big enough for soup for one or two people.)

to keep a stock of disposable containers on hand to be used for foor items taken elsewhere, means the person has to find somewhere in their house to 'stock' them.

there are also things that simply don't fit in any disposable container I know of. I was once asked to bring an entire pot of soup. Considering where it was going, I purchased a very cheap stock-pot at a thrift shop so I wouldn't care if I didn't see it again - but I had the money to blow. while it was much less than a quality stock pot - it was still money I had to spend to have a "disposable" container.

 

I always put an address label with my name on the item so it's easy to know to whom it belongs. when food items come from church members, there is one person in charge and dishes go back to her.

[QueenCat]

I when food items come from church members, there is one person in charge and dishes go back to her.

 

What a neat, practical idea!

[Guest]

We strongly encourage people at our church to send things in throw away dishes. If not, they put a label on it with their name. Most people know that the dishes will get brought back to church and put in the kitchen, so they just go in there and grab what is theirs. (And sometimes what is not :( )