Organizing your feast

Here's a step-by-step plan to help you

STEP 1: GET STARTED
1. Who are you going to invite?
Who would you like to invite to your party? Relatives? Close friends? Coworkers? Everyone you know? The guest list will help determine the tone of the party.

2. What type of get-together?
Would you like to have a backyard BBQ, a classroom pizza lunch or a formal sit-down dinner? Maybe an afternoon tea would do the trick?

Need some inspiration? Look at these feast ideas.

3. Will the event have a theme?
A theme can help you plan, and it can also add to the fun. Set the mood! Be creative!

Check out our online Get Started Kit.

STEP 2: PREPARE
Invite your guests
Send out invitations to guests at least four weeks in advance. Inform guests of the time, date, location, event theme and reason why you are holding the event.

You can send out invitations by mail, make phone calls or send e-mail invites. Make sure to mention your event is part of a global effort to help people with bleeding disorders and that donations will be accepted. Put your guests at ease by mentioning a suggested donation amount.

Check out our Get Started Kit for invitations and posters you can download.

•  Request an RSVP with a specific reply date.

•  Give directions, if needed.

•  Inquire about any food allergies, preferences or restrictions.

•  Specify the type of event – casual, gourmet, BBQ, etc.

Planning Tips
•  Plan your entire event weeks beforehand.

•  Think about the mood you wish to create. Casual? Off-the-wall? Elegant? Then think about the type of decorations, music, and the presentation. Let your guests know what to expect.

•  Choose recipes you have already tested and limit the complexity of the dishes you make.

•  Create a detailed shopping list, and go shopping well before the event. Try to do as much ahead of time as possible.

•  Make a detailed list of all food preparation that needs to be done, no matter how small you may think it is.

•  Ask friends and family to help you prepare and co-host the meal. Remember, you've got to have fun too!

•  If you are inviting children, you may want to find a volunteer babysitter to keep little ones occupied and entertained.

•  Be sure to buy film and test your camera battery. Please take plenty of photos! Send them in with your donations and they may get published on our website or in our newsletters!

STEP 3: DAY-OF-EVENT ORGANIZING
Limit the amount of things you have to cook at the last minute by cooking in stages. For example, pre-wash the vegetables for the salad the morning of the get-together.

Have snack foods or appetizers available for people as they wait for other guests to arrive. A little food keeps a famished crowd happy!

Use placards to list the name of each dish plus their ingredients if you have people with allergies or have special restrictions.

Place a basket or donations box in a visible place (Examples: entrance hall, near entrance to backyard) and mark it “Donations accepted. Thanks for your support!”

Remember to set aside time during the get-together to explain the event is to raise funds for people worldwide with bleeding disorders. Thank your guests for making a donation.

STEP 4: EVENT WRAP-UP
Please submit donations within a week of holding your event.
After your get-together, please send the proceeds to the participating haemophilia society nearest you using our downloadable donation forms. Please do not mail cash donations but submit the equivalent amount using a credit card or cheque. Your guests will receive a thank you letter and an official receipt for all donations.

Please send us your photos!
Your photos may be featured on this website and in our newsletters. We also encourage you to send in your recipes and stories about the event!

Thank You!
We want everyone who participates in Global Feast to receive an official note of thanks. When submitting your donation form, please include the complete address of your guests as well as your own.

Bon Appetit!

© Copyright World Federation of Hemophilia 2005