Lotsa Helping Hands
 

I read about this program in an article in Women With Cancer magazine (only magazine that was available in my doctor's office). The way it works is that people who have cancer and are unable to cook dinner for themselves and their families because of the treatments can make a page on http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com detailing what meals they need along with their dietary restrictions and volunteers can sign up to prepare meals for them. I think that this is a really sweet idea and I want to do this with a couple of friends, but due to privacy and confidentiality reasons, Lotsa Helping hands won't let you get involved with it unless you actually know a person who has registered through them. Does anyone know of any similar programs where we could cook or help out a person or family without actually knowing them?

Most homeless and domestic abuse shelters are always looking for cooking help and meals to be delivered to them on certain nights. Consider asking them to put you in contactwith a recent occupant who now has a home but can not afford or needs help, an elderly person perhaps.

We go to the Ronald McDonald House and cook (and clean) for the families that are there. It's for out-of-town families that have a terminally-ill child who is in the hospital here for treatment. They want to stay close to their kid, but can't afford hotels.

I guess you'd have check if there is a RMH in your area. It's a takes a little bit of legwork to get in, but it's worth it.

http://www.rmhc.org/rmhc/index.html

The Campus Kitchens Project
 

try www.campuskitchens.org
provides a platform for college students to develop their own support and meals outreach to their neighbors

Shelters are always a good place to start. Especially near holidays. Or you could try contacting a local church to see if they have any programs like that. Also, you should try to research and contact any local organizations that do Thanksgiving dinners in November. Chances are, these same people have just never thought of the idea of helping families year-round, or they may be having trouble getting people involved during other parts of the year.