A text from a friend this week:
I ❤ ur 31 days but I hate to cook. 🙁
My reply:
then don’t 🙂
{What is it with women and emoji?}
5 Ways to Offer Outrageous Hospitality {without cooking!}
All these ideas came from a walk through my neighborhood yesterday. Real people doing their thing.
1. Meet a need. My neighbors installed a water fountain in their front yard so thirsty walkers, joggers, and cyclists can stop for a cool sip of water. As if that wasn’t enough, they added a pet bowl for equally thirsty companions. What’s unique about your neighborhood? Is there a need you could meet? Something as simple as a fresh bowl of water for pets?
2. Create a gathering place. Have you heard of Little Free Library? I’m in love. Little Free Library is a “take a book, return a book” gathering place where neighbors share their favorite literature and stories. Do you live in a rural area where the local library is far away? Or an apartment complex with lots of little children? Or just an ordinary suburban area where a little free library might encourage strangers to meet as neighbors?
3. Host A Community Event. Over 350 churches in Austin are participating in a city wide conversation called Explore God. Imagine thousands of people, curious about God, gathering in places of business, homes, and coffee shops to have honest and authentic discussions. This neighbor was hosting a Thursday morning group, probably 10 people. What community events could you be part of in your town? Neighborhood Associations, homeowners meetings, crime prevention gatherings, city wide book clubs?
4. Front Yard Friday. When the weather is cooler, our ‘hood hosts a weekly, sometimes monthly, gathering. No RSVP, no menu, just show up and hang out. Sometimes we bring food, sometimes drinks {ok always}, sometimes desserts for the kids. Front Yard Fridays could be held anywhere. Adapt the idea for your ‘hood.
5. Have a Party. Parties don’t have to be time consuming or labor intensive. I wrote about Potluck Suppers last week, but how about something even more simple. Something that doesn’t involve cleaning the house or cooking! BYOS. That’s right. A s’mores party. If you build a fire, they will come! Put a portable fire pit in the driveway, send an email or put flyers in mailboxes and then sit back, roast some s’mores and enjoy.
6. Pay it forward. This is a bonus idea from Starbucks. I got this message on my phone this morning and thought I’d share. Buy someone a cup of coffee at your neighborhood coffee shop. Or in your building at work. Or the airport. Or wherever you are today.
These ideas were all inspired by a quick 30 minute walk in my neighborhood. Look around, you’ll find ways to offer outrageous hospitality in your neck of the woods, too.
Day #10 Table Talk: What ideas do you have to offer outrageous hospitality that don’t involve cooking?
Pick up breakfast and a cheerful bouquet to take to an elderly neighbor who is not able to get out of their house very often. Spend a few minutes visiting with him/ her. You will both be blessed!
Great idea Melinda! Thanks for joining us today. I’m so grateful you are here. xo, Kristin
Kristin, along the lines of the Starbucks idea, Green Beans Coffee has a program where you can buy a “cup of joe for a Joe”. You can buy a cup of coffee that will be delivered to a US service member at an overseas base. You get to send a little message with your cup of coffee and sometimes the service members write back to say thank you. Most of the coffee I buy is being delivered in Afghanistan right now. They try to deliver in the war zones. It is awesome. You can check it out here:
https://www.greenbeanscoffee.com/coj/
Carolyn,
YES! Love this idea. I wasn’t aware of the Cup for Joe campaign – once again, you’ve taught me well. Happy every time you pull up a chair to the table, friend. xo, Kristin
I didn’t do Starbucks, but I did buy the two Dads in line behind me in the Children’s Hospital coffee shop their drinks this morning. They were really surprised and appreciative. Then I came home and read your post. Isn’t that just like God? Thanks, Kristin!
Cindee, Well, it doesn’t surprise me at all you bought coffee for strangers! 😉 Wait until you hear the story of the woman I bought coffee for today. Let’s just say it ended with a hug. Totally God. xoox, K
This is awesome, and this series is truly a favorite. I really appreciate this challenge to think about hospitality in a way that doesn’t involve cooking. I do equate hospitality with cooking! Thanks so much for giving me a different perspective.
My family and I have done “Spaghetti Drive-By’s” where we take a bucket, fill it with a jar of spaghetti sauce, noodles and Italian bread, and leave it on someone’s porch. That someone could be a mom with a new baby, a person who had lost a loved one, or just someone we want to bless in a small but tangible way.
I love this series! I found you late so I’m going back and reading your older posts. One thing I do that to show hospitality that doesn’t involve food is to write a note. I keep a collection of note cards in my prayer basket and whenever the Lord brings someone to mind I jot a note to them. Sometimes just to say I’m praying for you or I tell then thank you or offer some encouragement. It only cost the price of a stamp but I’ve had many people tell me how much it meant to them to receive a note in the mail. I even noticed the other day that my friend had all the little notes I’ve sent her over the years tucked in to the back pocket of her bible case. Looking forward to reading the rest of your series.
I made Easter goodie bags for each of my neighbors! In the bags I put spring colored oreos, jellybeans, Andes candies, and an invite to Easter service at our church
I just put a Turquoise table in my front yard today! I hadn’t even gotten it aligned strait in the yard when a couple from our neighborhood who were walking, stopped and asked what the table was for! Wow! That was easy! 🙂 I think this will be a real encouragement for me to get out of my house and into my front yard to reconnect with my neighbors…and there are lots of new neighbors to meet. Our 30 + year old neighborhood is in a state of change, as many are moving south after retiring, and there are fewer kids than when we first built our home here. So we have all begun to retreat into our homes. But there are needs just the same. I pray God would use me and this Turquoise Table to bless our neighbors, and possibly to introduce some to Christ! I have many ideas I want to try out at my adorable little table. Shopping today at Target helped me when I spotted some cute little sparkly plastic cups and a water decanter, and pretty turquoise and white melamine plates to serve treats on. I bought some fancy crayons and paints and a blank book with 300 drawing starters in it, to engage the creativity of friends who stop by…(I am an artist and this is a fun way for me to loosen up, too). Next I want to put a pot of pretty flowers out there to say welcome! Any engaging ideas, send them my way! I love this! <3 <3