** libraries (KEY)
Libraries are the most important building in any community in terms of long term
value. When in doubt, always support libraries and fund them (regardless of your
politics) and work to minimize laws that negatively impact libraries.
EVERY single community that burned library books or got rid of libraries are dead
and it is better to be pissed about them having books you don't like than for you
to lose your community and you to ultimately die because of it.
Besides books, some libraries also loan out tools and 3D printers; not to mention
some provide free classes and shelter to those in need.
** Churches/Temples
Make CERTAIN that everyone who is a member knows that in the event of disaster
to go to church and bring supplies. This will enable a quick rebuild in the event
of damage but also the preservation of as many lives as possible. Feed everyone
(regardless of if they are church members or not) who shows up and protect everyone
inside from the elements if possible.
If possible operate a soup kitchen for the homeless and have a library of tools
on hand for repair. If the government was kind enough to build a fallout shelter
for you, stocking a food pantry in there will supercharge community recovery.
Any church/temple that doesn't help the homeless/poor is going to be a deathtrap
when disaster strikes (especially those mega-churches where the minister just
enriches themselves).
A humble minister who lives in a small apartment/home and helps the homeless all
week long is much more likely to have Jesus in his heart and do good than one who
owns a private jet and a mansion in a different zip code.
** invincibility centers (done by governments)
The centers are in essence a stopgap while utility crews scramble to fix cut power
lines and put water mains back into operation, so basic services can be restored
to hospitals and essentials prior to restoring services to homes and businesses.
Basically pick any building that the government owns, turn on the generators, let
everyone in and give them beverages (coffee/tea/water), electricity and internet
access. If done during winter or a heat wave, you'll save thousands (or more) lives.
** Soup kitchens
I strongly recommend you set these up before any disaster occurs (or get coordinated
with helping one now); because it will not be possible to convince people to give
you all of that food AFTER a disaster if you are not actively feeding other
people BEFORE a disaster and routinely asking for additional supplies.
It is generally easier to volunteer with one (to get coordinated) than to setup
your own but if you need to setup your own, below are the steps.
Working in a soup kitchen will work against you in the event of an extreme famine
as people will get paranoid about food hoarding.
*** Outline your basic plan
You'll need to figure out these details first:
the number of people you plan to serve daily
food safety protocols
the person in charge of the menu planning
food service protocols for those with allergies and religious restrictions
whether the food will be served in a cafeteria or restaurant style
*** Look for a Suitable Location
Since you’re catering to the homeless, your ideal location should be near where
your intended guests are. Remember that most homeless and underprivileged people
don’t have cars. If your soup kitchen is far from where they are, it would be
inaccessible for them.
If renting or buying your own place isn’t an option right now, you can also set
up a soup kitchen in public places. Religious institutions like churches, mosques,
synagogues, and temples are a great option too. They are usually accessible to the
public and can hold large crowds. Don’t forget to ask for permission from these
places first.
*** Register as a Non-Profit
Registering your soup kitchen as a non-profit establishes its legal identity. It
exempts you from paying tax and makes it easier to avail of government assistance
programs for non-profits.
Each state has different procedures for registering charitable organizations. But
it usually involves filing an Articles of Incorporation and applying for federal
tax exemption. (which can take up to 2 years) To be sure, visit your state’s charity
registration office.
*** Additional Paperwork
After registering your soup kitchen as a non-profit, you’ll need to take care of
additional paperwork like:
insurance coverage for property and liability
health insurance for your employees (if any)
health and safety permits
*** Raise Funds and Food Donations
As you know, soup kitchens run on donations. That’s why fundraising activities are
essential in getting the soup kitchen up and running. There are plenty of ways to
raise funds and donations for a soup kitchen. You can organize a food drive or
fundraising activities like:
crowdfunding
charity auctions
online donations
selling customized shirts and merchandise
charity walk/run
charity raffle
*** Look for Volunteers
Aside from donations, non-profits like soup kitchens also rely on volunteers to
get things done. That’s why aside from raising funds, you also need to recruit
volunteers.
Start with the people you know like friends and relatives. You can also involve
people from your church, the local schools, or scout for volunteers online. There
are plenty of places you can get volunteers from.
Plus, as I’ve said, it’s a great way of bringing people together to help the less
fortunate. That’s why most soup kitchens don’t lack volunteers.
Allowing patrons to be volunteers has to be done carefully. You must be selective.
It is not uncommon for patrons, who have been given even modest authority, to abuse
it and start ordering people (other patrons, volunteers) around. While many patrons
are sincere in their desire to help and are trying to give back, it is best to
monitor the person until you are sure that they are helping for the right reasons.
*** Buy Necessary Food Service Equipment
Obviously, you won’t be able to serve hot meals if you don’t have the proper food
serving equipment.
During your planning stage, you already identified how many people you plan to
serve per day and the kinds of food you’ll have on your menu. This should give you
an idea of what kitchen equipment and tools to buy.
*** Stock Your Pantry
This is one of the most important steps in running a soup kitchen. I mean, you
can’t cook hot meals if you have nothing to cook, right?
Aside from the food donations, you can also reach out to food banks to see if they
can help. Or if you have lots of restaurants and cafeterias in your area, try to
see if they can donate some of their excess supplies. Working with local food
pantries is where approximately 3/4 of ALL your food will be coming from. Sharing
funds with the local pantries will enable bigger food orders and the dollars going
much further.
*** Get the Word Out About Your Soup Kitchen
Just like when opening a business, you also need to get the word out about your
soup kitchen. You can announce it on social media or print posters and flyers. If
you know people from the media, then much better.
"Marketing" your soup kitchen will not only help you reach the people you’re hoping
to help. It can also connect you with the people who are interested in your cause.
** Food pantries
I strongly recommend you set these up before any disaster occurs (or get coordinated
with helping one now); because it will not be possible to convince people to give
you all of that food AFTER a disaster if you are not actively feeding other
people BEFORE a disaster and routinely asking for additional supplies.
It is generally easier to volunteer with one (to get coordinated) than to setup
your own.
They tend to follow one of two organizational styles:
Shopping Method: The client goes into the pantry; picks out what s/he needs, and
fills his/her own bag/box.
Ordering Method: The client receives a list of items available, or can view them
from behind a table or counter; s/he will indicate which items s/he wants and
how many. Staff/volunteers fill the boxes according to the order.
During disaster your first priority is getting supplies to the soup kitchens; so
have good relationships with local soup kitchens (as they are the party which will
be receiving your excess inventory). you'll be providing a food buffer to soup
kitchens to keep people alive until supplies can be brought in from outside the
disaster zone. Ideally you'll be well stocked but with current climate change and
economic destruction of the working class; it isn't going to be pretty.
Ideally in good times, you'll just be a warehouse for storing food for soup kitchens
but when things start to get tough (economically) you'll slowly switch to supplying
basics to the working poor (and later to the working middle class) and after that
you'll be tapped out and just be working hard trying to get additional supplies
for the soup kitchens you partnered with.
Need = (number of people living at or below the poverty line) * 234 lbs. of food
aid per year
Working in a food pantry will work against you in the event of an extreme famine
as people will get paranoid about food hoarding.
And most food pantries are required to store records for 3 years about the people
who received food, specifically:
Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone number
Number in household
Number of adults
Number of children
This information is required by the IRS and is used by the government eligibility
programs.
Multiple soup kitchens might pool funds with you to do bulk orders and if you can
find a super shopper (someone who extreme coupons), you'll always be able raise
funds to get additional supplies. As for every $1 of food a person could donate,
$100 worth of food could be purchased by an effective food pantry.
Funding the creation of and growth of community gardens can build a good supply
of perishable veg/fruits to supplement long term stored supplies.
