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A Comprehensive Guide: How to Start a Meal Train with Ease

In a world that often feels disconnected, there’s something beautiful about the way people come together during times of need. Whether it’s celebrating a new addition to the family or supporting someone during an illness or loss, organizing a meal train is a heartwarming way to show your care and support. In this article, we’ll explore the wonderful world of meal sign-up websites, how to start a meal train, and how to get started on this meaningful journey.

The Magic of Meal Sign-Up Websites

Meal sign-up websites are the modern-day superheroes of community support. They make it easy to coordinate meals for someone in need. These platforms offer a centralized hub where friends, family, and even acquaintances can sign up to bring meals, ensuring that the recipient receives the nourishment and love they deserve.

How to Organize a Meal Train: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Identify the Need The first step is to determine who could benefit from a meal train. It could be a friend who just had a baby, a family member recovering from surgery, or a neighbor going through a challenging time. Make sure to get their consent and any dietary preferences or restrictions.

Step 2: Choose a Platform Opt for a user-friendly platform. Sign up and create a new meal train. You’ll need to provide details about the recipient, such as their name, address, and the duration of the meal train.

Step 3: Invite Participants Spread the word within your community and invite friends and family to participate. Share the meal train link through email, social media, or even by word of mouth. The more, the merrier!

Step 4: Schedule Meals Using the platform, participants can choose dates and times to deliver meals. This ensures a steady stream of support for the recipient without overwhelming anyone.

Step 5: Offer Flexibility Life can be unpredictable. Allow participants to make changes or swap dates if needed. Meal sign-up websites make it easy for contributors to manage their commitments.

Step 6: Show Gratitude Encourage participants to add personal messages and well wishes with their meals. Gratitude goes a long way in making everyone feel appreciated and connected.

How to Start a Meal Train: Your First Steps

Starting a meal train is an incredible way to make a difference in someone’s life. Here’s how to begin:

1. Choose Your Platform Start by selecting a platform. Register for an account and explore the user-friendly features designed to make your experience seamless.

2. Create a Meal Train Initiate the process by creating a meal train. Provide details about the recipient, their needs, and the schedule. Be sure to set clear expectations and guidelines.

3. Spread the Word Reach out to your community and let them know about the meal train. Share the link far and wide. Remember, the more people who join in, the stronger the support network.

4. Encourage Engagement As participants sign up, encourage them to interact with the platform. They can add comments, coordinate with others, and even contribute to other types of support.

5. Stay Connected Stay engaged throughout the meal train, updating participants and thanking them for their kindness. Keep the lines of communication open, and you’ll foster a sense of togetherness.

Organizing a meal train is an act of love that brings communities closer.

It’s a reminder that, even in our busy lives, we can make a meaningful difference in someone else’s life. If you’re inspired to start your own meal train, remember that there are platforms out there to assist you. One such platform is Give InKind, which offers the tools and support you need to make the process seamless and efficient, and the best part is that you can use it for free. In the end, the most important thing is the love and care you share with those in need. Together, we can spread love, one meal at a time. Visit Give InKind to begin your journey today.

Mastering Meal Train Set Up: A Compassionate Guide to Creating Supportive Networks

In a world where connections often seem fleeting, there’s something profoundly heartwarming about people uniting during times of need. Whether it’s celebrating a new family member or standing by someone during a challenging period, orchestrating a meal train set up is a tangible way to convey care and solidarity. In this article, we’ll delve into the art of meal train set up, offering you a comprehensive guide that emphasizes the importance of building supportive networks.

The Heartfelt Nature of Meal Train Set Up

Meal train set up epitomizes modern-day empathy, simplifying the coordination of nourishing meals for individuals facing life’s challenges. These platforms serve as an anchor, bringing together friends, family, and even acquaintances, all eager to extend their kindness through homemade dishes, meal deliveries, or gift cards for meal deliveries.

How to Initiate a Meal Train Set Up: A Step-by-Step Approach

Step 1: Recognize the Need Begin the journey of meal train set up by identifying someone who could benefit from this support. It might be a friend in the throes of early parenthood, a loved one on the mend, or a neighbor navigating a tough time. Always seek their consent and inquire about dietary preferences and restrictions.

Step 2: Choose a Meal Train Platform Opt for a user-friendly meal train platform that understands the importance of simplicity. Register and embark on the creation of your meal train set up. The platform will require essential details about the recipient, including their name, address, and the anticipated duration of the support.

Step 3: Extend Invitations Broadcast the meal train set up across your community, inviting friends and family to participate. Share the meal train link through email, social media, or good old-fashioned conversations. The greater the number of participants, the more profound the impact.

Step 4: Plan Meal Deliveries, Gift Cards, or Homemade Dishes Utilize the platform to schedule meal deliveries, gift cards for meal deliveries, or homemade dishes. This systematic approach ensures a continuous flow of support to the recipient while ensuring that no one feels overwhelmed.

Step 5: Foster Flexibility Acknowledge the unpredictability of life by allowing participants to modify their commitments as needed. Meal train set up platforms are designed to facilitate such adjustments.

Step 6: Express Gratitude Encourage participants to accompany their meals, gift cards, or homemade dishes with personal messages and well-wishes. Gratitude forms the foundation of the connections forged during a meal train set up.

Initiating Your Own Meal Train Set Up: Early Steps

If you’re inspired to initiate your own meal train set up, consider the following steps:

1. Handpick a Meal Train Platform Begin your journey by selecting a user-friendly meal train platform. Register and explore its features, tailored to make your meal train set up a smooth experience.

2. Create Your Meal Train Initiate your meal train set up by crafting a new one. Provide essential details about the recipient, their specific needs, and the expected schedule. It’s vital to set clear expectations and guidelines for participants.

3. Spread the Word Effortlessly share information about your meal train set up with your community. Widespread promotion is key. Keep in mind that the more participants you gather, the stronger the web of support becomes.

4. Encourage Active Engagement As participants sign up, urge them to engage with the platform actively. They can leave comments, coordinate with others, or even contribute to various forms of support.

5. Stay Interconnected Throughout your meal train set up journey, maintain open lines of communication with participants. Update them regularly and express your heartfelt gratitude for their kindness. This connection fosters a deep sense of togetherness.

A Closing Thought on Meal Train Set Up

Meal train set up stands as a testament to the human spirit, bringing communities closer and fortifying connections. It reminds us that, even in our fast-paced lives, we possess the ability to make a profound impact on someone else’s journey. If you’re eager to embark on your own meal train set up, remember that platforms like Give InKind are available to lend a helping hand. They provide the essential tools and unwavering support you need to streamline the process, and the best part is that it won’t cost you a dime.

Ultimately, the crux of meal train set up lies in the love and compassion you extend to those in need. Together, we can nourish both bodies and souls, one meal, gift card, or homemade dish at a time. To embark on your meal train set up journey today, visit Give InKind.

I’m OK with the term rainbow baby – this is why.

The day my daughter died was the darkest day of my life.

There is nothing that can prepare you for waddling into an ultrasound, 8 months pregnant, and having a doctor look into your terrified eyes as he says “I’m sorry, but there’s no heartbeat.”

As the ground fell out from underneath me, a fog filled my brain that wouldn’t leave for months. Big, heavy tears clouded my vision as I survived the next 36 hours – long hours as I waited for my husband to fly home, as I labored through the birth I had dreamed of my whole life (this was nothing like I had dreamed of), as I held my beautiful, perfect, 6lb 9oz daughter Layla. Every time I blinked, dreams rolled down my face, soaking my shirt like the milk that would come in days later, my body unaware that there was no baby to feed.

As I was wheeled out of the hospital in the darkness of night, clutching a pillow, I felt certain I would never, ever feel the sunshine on my face again. How could I? The last package I received in the mail was art for my daughter’s nursery, You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine. My bones felt as cold as my belly did empty. My husband tucked me into bed where I’d stay for a week that followed, unable to speak a word to anyone.

But we lived in Southern California – even in November, you can only hide from the sun for so long. After a week, we took our first walk. I pulled my hooded sweatshirt over my head, blocking the world from my peripheral vision, as I focused on the two block walk to the beach. We walked straight to the shoreline and set three paper cranes that we had folded at her baby shower out to sea. Wishes from loved ones, never to be read. The sun burned like lightning on the back of my sweatshirt as I retreated for safety.

It was in the months that followed that I learned of the term rainbow baby – a name given to a baby born shortly after the loss of a previous baby due to miscarriage, stillbirth or death in infancy. This term is used because a rainbow typically follows a storm, giving us hope of what’s to come.

My baby was not a storm. But the days and weeks and months that followed losing her were. And like a storm, my grief swirled and changed every day, starting as a constant downpour and eventually slowing to a drizzle. Until, one day, a small stream of light.

Pregnancy after loss is terrifying. It is living face to face with your worst fear, and knowing that there is nothing you can do to change the outcome. You survive every day by focusing on that small stream of light, even as the clouds try and overwhelm you, threatening rain just around the corner.

And then one day, one year and six days after the rain started, the clouds parted and let the sun beam in. I held my newborn son and felt the warmth my body had missed. I squinted into the sun as I was wheeled out of the same hospital doors, in the brightness of day, and the world had never looked so colorful. So full of hope.

My rainbow baby.

I now have two little boys who fill my life with more color (and noise) than I could have ever imagined. We talk about their sister and celebrate her life and yes, throw rainbow themed birthday parties, because they brought the sun to shine right along with the rain – and without the both of those, there wouldn’t be rainbows.

One Million Thanks, One Million Supporters

This year, over one million people came to Give InKind to give support to someone else. One million people who took action – to support quarantined neighbors and frontline workers and far away family and perfect strangers. From meal deliveries, to gift card trains, to donations and offers to help and just words of cheer – one million people showed up for someone else.

I consider myself a professional lemonade maker. Not to downplay tragedy, but I’ve gotten really good at taking crummy situations and finding some way to turn them into good. I did after the loss of my father steered me into working in technology, and the loss of my daughter allowed me to use the skills I’d developed and build Give InKind. I think that when you make lemonade, you’re not diminishing the lemons. You’re not pretending the lemons never existed. You’re adding something else to them to make them more palatable.

2020 has been a lemon if ever there was one. I don’t have to list all of the ways that lives and communities across the globe have been devastated by the black swan of our lifetime. I would find it hard to imagine a single life that hasn’t been impacted in some way by this global pandemic. Because everyone we know is affected, it makes it feel exponentially harder to reach out for help. But it hasn’t stopped us from helping one bit. The million supporters on Give InKind this year is proof.

All we have heard about this year is the loneliness. I feel that in my bones, the longing for hugs and in-person connection from my family and friends. But those one million people? Every action they took combats the loneliness. It feeds connection, and says “I’m here for you, even if I’m not there with you.”

So thank you, all one million of you, for coming to Give InKind this year to support someone else. You are truly helping us make the lemonade, and you showed us how much stronger we are together.

5 Ways To Practice Compassion Among Your Family and Friends Through the Holidays

The holidays are a time when families usually come together to celebrate the season of gratitude, but this holiday season is shaping up to be like none other. While the season is often marked by abundance, it can also be a time of great need, especially this year as the pandemic rages.

Many are struggling this year. Even in seemingly stable families, there exist struggling college students, extended family who may be going to the food bank for the first time, moms who are secretly going through a divorce and wondering how to get by during the coming year, and family members facing a diagnosis that will require hospitalization.

Why not use this time together while apart to look for and help your friends and family that could use an extra hand this holiday season?

Here are five ways to weave compassion – for yourself and others – into the coming holidays.

Check In: Don’t Assume It’s All Okay

Do you have a friend or family member that you think might be going through something? Check in and ask. Offer to drop off a meal, send them a card or a text. Make a phone call. You don’t have to pry into their life but be there and listen to what they have to say. The holidays can trigger all kinds of feelings and are a good time to touch base, especially amid the flurry of holiday cards and photos.

Listen to Understand

There’s a difference between “listen to talk” and “listen to understand.” Listening to understand means you’re actively listening to the other person. You’re not in the “problem-solving mindset,” you’re in the “exploration” mindset. Your friend may simply need to talk. Or they might need advice or a second opinion. Whatever it is, you won’t know unless you practice listening to understand. Creating space for those story-telling family members is a great place to start – studies show that recounting stories improves self-esteem in seniors.

Care for Yourself

Maybe you’re the one who is always there for everyone and always showing up when people need it most, and maybe this year, you’re exhausted from the mental load of a global pandemic. Tell someone you need to talk and make the time to do it, whether it’s a friend, a family member, a therapist, or counselor. Your needs are valid and important and your family and friends will respect that you know how to ask for and get the help you need to live your best life. Make it the gift you give yourself this year.

Find Causes That Speak To You

Find nonprofits and causes that you can make an ongoing part of your life. Why? Because when a cause speaks to you, you’re more likely to look for creative ways to help it. Consider creating a gift card drive for a local nonprofit that could use some extra help supporting their community this year. When you’re actively involved with a cause you believe in, you’re more likely to talk about it with your friends and encourage them to give back in ways that are meaningful in their lives. Giving Tuesday is just one day, but a great day to start.

Get Organized

When you know someone who is going through a hardship, like a loved one in the hospital, the birth of a new baby, a sick child, or the death of a loved one, organize your friends and family to help them. This can be done with online tools like Give InKind that help you coordinate financial contributions, calendar tasks, chores, and more on a dedicated page that helps the person in need get exactly what they need. Time spent with family is a great time to pull together and make a plan for supporting someone you love.

No matter how you give and give back this holiday season and beyond, stay mindful about those in need. May we all be lucky enough to not need, but when we do, may we all have the support of our loved ones and community to help us through.

Create an inKind page here for someone who needs a little extra support this year, or start a Give InKind Holiday Giving Drive Page here. If you have any further questions, visit Give InKind’s Help Center or contact us directly at [email protected].

5 Best Gift Cards to Send to Parents After the Birth of a New Baby

For new parents, learning to navigate the world with a baby can be overwhelming. Learning to prepare a meal with one hand – and a fussy baby can bring a new parent to tears. (We have been there). So give them back a hand – this time in gift card form.

For parents who have an older child/ren, help with food and media distractions becomes even more important. It is not easy to be getting an infant to latch on with a toddler climbing all over you. It’s a sea of love – and no one would want it any other way. Still, making the pieces align means sending practical help. Trust us; they will never forget it.

Natural Resources: Trusted Support for Expecting and New Families

The moment you get pregnant, the flood of information begins – google searches, the barrage of social media, opinions from relatives and co-workers, and well-meaning (but sometimes unsolicited😉) advice. It makes sense – if you’re a new parent, there is so much to learn about. But it can be exhausting and confusing to have information coming from every angle.

Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could have a trusted place to get information and support, where you could ask questions AND know that every product was safe for yourself and your baby? Great news: that exists! San Francisco-based nonprofit Natural Resources nurtures families from pregnancy to early childhood.

At Natural Resources, expectant and new parents get information and support through three pillars:

Classes and support groups. These range from very practical Childbirth Prep Classes, to more emotional preparation like Babyproofing Your Relationship, to the very popular and very San Francisco class, Preparing your Vagina For Birth. Support groups are offered for pregnant and new parents, to help navigate the dynamic changes during this special – and sometimes challenging – time. There are also classes for when baby gets older: Baby Sign Language, Baby Sleep Solutions, and Parenting through Toddler Tantrums are just some examples of the 30+ classes available.

Effective, vetted and best-in-class products to purchase and rent – Let’s be real – When it comes to your baby, you want the best! Whether you are looking for pregnancy tea, finding educational toys, getting mesh panties for after birth, giving a gift to a newly-pregnant friend, or asking a grandparent to get something special for the holidays that will keep your kiddo busy, you can know that if Natural Resources carries it, it has been vetted. You can buy knowing that it will support you and your child’s optimal wellness and development. Rentals like birth tubs, breast pumps, and scales make high-quality items available at a lower price point, and aren’t exactly things you need forever. It’s good for the environment to rent for the time you need.

A warm and welcoming community. Much more than just a retail store, Natural Resources is a community space for new families where you can come anytime to feed and change your baby as well as hydrate and feed yourself! You can speak with a knowledgeable staff member, connect with other parents, try out a wide range of carriers, get fitted for a nursing bra, and rent various parenting resources and materials. Many parents have made life-long friends through Natural Resources. During COVID-19, 6 visitors are allowed in-store at a time. Additionally, GATHER is a new online community for members and class participants to connect virtually and set up distanced walks and gatherings.

We love that each purchase supports this wonderful nonprofit. Through COVID-19, Natural Resources has continued offering essential support, serving expectant and new parents with virtual classes, an online store, gift cards, and GATHER.

About

Natural Resources is San Francisco’s oldest pregnancy, birth, and early parenting resource center, and in 2019 received San Francisco’s coveted Legacy Business designation for community-serving businesses 30+ years old. Numerous Bay Area centers that supported new parents and babies have closed, yet the need for support at the pivotal time of childbirth grows. Natural Resources is a keystone in the birth community that many families depend on and benefit from during birth and early parenting.

A 501c3, Natural Resources serves expecting and new families of all income levels through education, empowerment, and community. While specializing in evidence-based and conscious parenting, Natural Resources ultimately prepares parents to make informed decisions that support the optimal development of their newborn and their family. The organization is extremely privileged to interact with and support parents and families during this monumental time in their lives, and when, at times, family members may feel particularly vulnerable.

Natural Resources believes in a more just and equitable future. That work starts with parenting, so Natural Resources has a wide array of social justice books for family members of all ages. They also offer a free, weekly read along focused on inclusion and diversity, We All Belong Read Along, and have hosted product drives to get nursing supplies to BIPOC new families.

Why Nurture Families?

Today, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of all developed countries and one in seven women in the U.S. experience postpartum depression including severe episodes of isolation and inadequacy. Natural Resources helps mothers and birthing people navigate the challenges of new parenthood which is vital to the well-being of new families. Users of Natural Resources say:

“Natural Resources saved my life. I was struggling with postpartum depression and it was a safe haven for me during an incredibly difficult time;”

“Nothing else comes even close to Natural Resources. I feel so lucky to live just a twenty minute walk away;”

“Natural Resources was my lifeline out of a pretty isolating, anxiety-filled postpartum period;”

“It’s (NR) been an amazing resource when my son was born and I needed support from other parents;”

“Natural Resources was a safe haven for me to learn about pregnancy, birth, doulas, midwives, breastfeeding, infant sleep, and infant CPR…What a lifesaver to have so much good stuff in one spot!”

“I was a bit hesitant to do the zoom version because I wasn’t sure if it would be engaging enough for our now 3 year old.

Erika is amazing. The energy level, silliness, and creativity she uses to keep the kids interested even via zoom is so wonderful. Our daughter has loved it so far and it’s been fun for my husband and I to get back into signing, too.

Thank you for continuing to push forward and make these classes available even during COVID times. It’s something that helps us feel a bit more “normal” to get to do a class together again.” – Leah K (Toddler & Preschooler Sign Langauge)

“I’ve never felt so comfortable, welcomed and attended to in a class before. All my questions were answered and even above and beyond what I expected. I felt more at peace than going to a hospital or talking to a doctor. I’m so thankful for these instructors and resources. I will either donate or take more classes from this experience. Thank you so much for this!” – Esther K

Britt’s enthusiasm was contagious! I really liked her pacing and flow throughout the class combining soothing meditation/yoga, information session and higher energy dance segments.” – Abby T

Newborn Care & Parenting– “I loved that it was basic, tangible, and interactive. Super practical stuff – just what I was looking for!” Sarah D

Thank you for the support you provided when I was pregnant and when my toddler was little – Catherine L

I love every staff member I ever met at NR and am so thankful for the great experiences I had in your store while I was on maternity leave. THANK YOU! – Amy H

How Do the Top Food Train Calendars Compare?

One of the simplest, most appreciated gestures of support that people can receive is a warm meal. Whether it’s takeout for a family who just welcomed a child or chicken pot pie for a family coping with recent surgery, illness, or a death, sending a loved one a meal is a great way to show you care.

Meal train calendars: what they are, and what to expect

Thankfully, technology has made it easier than ever to coordinate meal registries–also known as food trains or meal trains–for any of life’s events. Several websites and apps allow you to organize meal deliveries so that you can easily dish out responsibilities (pun intended!), ensure that all slots are filled, and confirm that meals aren’t going to be repeated. With food trains, your friends and family know exactly what will be heading their way.

There are several options out there to create a meal registry or a Care Calendar. We’ll take a quick look at some of the top choices on the market to help you decide which one you should choose to manage your next meal drop-off. Hopefully, this overview will help you determine what food train calendar will best suit your situation.

Popular Food Train Calendars

There are several food train calendars that we take a brief look at below. Here are some of the most popular food train sites, as well as a brief look at what sets them apart:

MealTrain provides an online calendar for scheduling meals. The basic, bare-bones version of MealTrain is free but only allows you to schedule one meal from one person each day. Simply invite participants and you’re off. If you want to organize more support, MealTrain offers an upgrade that requires a monthly fee.

Take Them A Meal (TTAM) offers a free, no-frills meal coordinating calendar. While TTAM is limited to just a meal delivery schedule, it’s a straightforward site that is easy to navigate. If you can’t deliver a meal that you’ve signed up for, TTAM has integrated meal providers who can deliver on your behalf.

Family Proud is a care management tool that allows patients and their families to connect with a community and resources that are relevant to their care. It also offers individuals who have been in the same shoes as current patients listed on the site the ability to share their own experiences, help, and encourage others who may be facing similar challenges.

Lotsa Helping Hands (LHH) is a website and app that helps coordinate meals and help for friends and family. Caregivers and volunteers use the care calendar to ensure that their community is well taken care of, whether it’s by covering childcare or organizing transportation. Volunteers can pick up scheduled tasks to coordinate care.

CareCalendar is a free, web-based system designed to help friends and family members schedule meals, visits, or other means of support. It also emphasizes communication between members supporting a specific family, allowing users to share updates to everyone involved in taking care of them.

Give InKind takes the concept of a free meal calendar from apps and services like those described above and takes it to the next level. The platform revolutionizes a care calendar into a convenient, holistic solution for friends and family members.

Give InKind is completely free, so you have full access to the complete functionality of a comprehensive Care Calendar. There are unlimited entries so that, for example, you can schedule breakfast, lunch and dinner deliveries on the same day, if you wish to. This differs from the free version of MealTrain, which only allows you to schedule one meal a day per individual.

The InKind Care Calendar lets friend and family help through unlimited number of calendar entries so that everything is taken care of. There are tools that make it quick and easy to arrange different types of support. For example, new parents have different needs than a family coping with the loss of a spouse or parent. These options offer a degree of flexibility that other care calendars simply can’t offer.

Thanks to some well-thought-out integrations, it’s easier than ever to provide support. Give InKind lets you sign up to help with a task or bring them a meal, schedule your meal up to a week in advance via GrubHub, or send a gift card for a meal delivery. If you’d rather give money than time, you can also contribute financially via PayPal or GoFundMe, or purchase something from an InKind Wishlist. You can even send a Care Card, which allows the recipient to select the gift card that best suits their immediate needs.

Creating an InKind Page to set up meals, care, or a wishlist is easy to do and only takes about 5 minutes. Your InKind Page allows for plenty of space to customize requests so that recipients can quickly receive precisely what they need. Plus, Give InKind offers live support, ensuring that it’s as simple as possible to efficiently give or receive the help that’s needed.

Food train calendars use websites and apps to arrange meal deliveries for people dealing with life’s joyful or sorrowful situations. Give InKind has expanded the concept of meal registries by allowing participants to state and provide all of their specific needs, to keep updated and encouraged throughout the journey, and to raise funds–all in one place. If you or someone you know or work with could benefit from a food or care train to help smooth out life’s challenges, get started on your InKind Page today.

Why Digital Gift Cards Are More Personal Than Ever

Gift cards are more personal now than ever before, especially in the midst of a crisis. In the past, gift cards have gotten a bad reputation as being “impersonal” or for those who were “too lazy to go buy a gift”.

In the present though, the reputation of gift cards has been on the rise. For families or even organizations that are distributed across the country, gift cards have brought people closer together in times when they can’t physically be there.

Let’s examine a few reasons why gift cards are making a comeback.

1. There are different types of gift cards

The variety of gift cards available now is almost endless. This means that for family members that are in different situations, there are different options to offer gift cards that suit their needs.

You can even send a credit card gift card to Target and Walmart which is basically like providing cash so they can use it towards any needs that arise.

It is also free to send a virtual gift card, as opposed to a care package full of heavy food items.

If you’re unsure of exactly which type of gift card to send your friend or family member, see Give InKind’s curated guides on which gift cards are best for those important and challenging life moments. A meal from their favorite local restaurant might be just what they need to feel better about their situation.

Food delivery gift cards are always a hit — they allow the recipient to order what they want when they want. It also helps relieve some of the burdens of having to work all day and then spend time cooking a meal for the family, providing a stree-free meal experience.

2. Helping from a distance isn’t easy

If you’re not nearby to lend a hand in the midst of a crisis, feelings of helplessness are common when you feel like you can’t physically be there for them. Regardless of the situation, your family members or friends could still use your support.

Sending store gift cards allows the recipients to save the card for when they need it, stretching their funds even further than they perhaps they intended. Whether it’s a gift card for food, clothing, or shelter, rest assured it will be used when the time is right.

3. It’s hard asking for help

Gift cards can help people feel better about receiving help. It allows your family members to still rely on themselves to use the gift cards at their discretion, as opposed to simply being provided for. The ability to make choices during a time of crisis is essential and helps improve your mental wellbeing.

If you’re helping family members across the country or in a different location, sending a digital gift card could be a great option. It’s free to send and allows your family member to use the funds at their discretion. There’s also no risk of it being lost in the mail.

Give InKind makes supporting through gift cards easy

The New York Times called gift cards, “a welcome gesture of practical kindness” in times of need.

At Give InKind we believe in making it easy to give exactly what’s needed most, in situations that are unique and personal. Sometimes that’s homecooked meals or childcare — and sometimes it’s a gift card to offset unexpected expenses or receive a contact-free meal delivery.

We don’t believe gift cards are “taboo” in any way. They allow people to feel like they’re helping, even if they’re across the country!

Give InKind has over 200 gift cards to choose from to add to your gift card train, helping to ensure everyone’s needs are covered. It’s like a registry, but the recipient gets to buy things that they need, when you need them.

In fact, sales of gift cards for necessities soared following the 2007 recession. Think about it. You can give a gift card for almost anything: groceries, prescriptions, pet food, entertainment… the options are endless, and the gift card has a tremendous value of relief for anyone needing support.

See how to get started on a Gift Card Train here.

4th Trimester Support: 5 Best Gift Cards to Send to Postpartum Mothers

The first few months after the birth of a new baby, also called the fourth trimester, is an intense, beautiful, and complicated time. These precious weeks and months offer many opportunities for a caring community to deliver support, friendship, and encouragement using digital gift cards for immediate response.

New parents welcome help with many things – chief among these are meals, an extra set of hands, offers to run errands and help with household chores, and general expressions of loving support.

For people offering support from a distance, go ahead and set up a gift card train. Items in this train can range from meals to baby clothes, to parenting books, etc. Other ways to be helpful include quick visits to check in about emergent new baby needs, including pharmacy supplies, postpartum self-care for mom, and a cup of tea to touch base and strategize about issues related to feeding the baby – like offering to watch the baby while she sleeps.