Begin with the end in mind Other than the obvious; feeding hungry and hurting people, what is the main goal of your hot meal site? What is the perception.

Begin with the end in mind

Other than the obvious; feeding hungry and hurting people, what is the main goal of your hot meal site?

What is the perception of your organization and feeding program in the community?

What small things can you do to enhance your program?

Visualize your meal as an event and plan accordingly

• How will you fund your program?

• How do you cultivate gift in-kind donors to supplement your program?

• How do you let your donors know the need(s) of your program?

Put first things first

• Of course win for your dinner guests, but what about for your donors, volunteers, and community?

• Your hot meal site should meet the need in your community for everyone, not just the homeless and hungry.

Think win/win/win/win….

Seek First to Understand

• Knowing your goals for your hot meal site, how do you reach your guests?

• Are you considering the hidden rules in the culture of poverty?

• Are you looking through the glasses of your guests and not merely through your own glasses with your own values?

• Are you communicating with your guests in their language?

Suspend your mental model about

life for a good dialogue to occur with those you are

trying to help.

• Breaking Barriers

• Work on the barriers which prevent your guests from making changes in their lives to break free from the rules that hold them back

• Work with your guests on a regular basis

• Listen with patience and ask questions

Seek First to Understand

• Change is slow

• Expecting too much too fast

from your guests?

• If you expect immediate

changes, you are setting

yourself up for failure

• A small step may be

enormous to them!

Seek First to Understand

Have answers

For Volunteers and Donors:• Tell your stories• Are you educating them about

the culture of poverty?• Have an answer ready with a

positive result

For your Guests:• Help connect your guests with

local agencies that can offer additional assistance

• Know about other agencies in your city or county

All of our organizations are serving our communities by meeting the needs of poor and homeless men, women and children in a variety of different ways.

At the end of the day. . .