I was working on the same thing, and finally got it finished (we have houseguests. Again.=))- here are my ideas:
Bringing a Casserole

I wanted to pass along this resource for organizing the giving of the meals. It is an awesome tool for this topic!

http://www.carecalendar.org/

Copied from their site:
“Calendar is a web based system to organize efforts to help families during a time of illness or after a life changing event, such as the birth of a baby or death of a family member.

CareCalendar can also be used for long term situations, including homebound and caregiver respite care needs.

Helper Benefits

Stay informed: Read status updates and view photos

Sign-up to help: See what needs are unfilled and sign yourself up for them.

Receive e-mail notifications: Get reminders about needs that you signed-up for and any unfilled needs for the day

Get maps and driving directions: Know how to get to the recipients location, turn by turn.

Access when convenient: CareCalendar is available around the clock. As long as you have access to the Internet, you can get to CareCalendar. No need to worry about interrupting the coordinator’s day when you can easily look it up for yourself.”

Blessings,
Karla

My daughter spent a week in the hospital when she was 2.5 years old. It was very unexpected so I was totally unprepared for it. The most thoughtful things that people did: visited us! I really need to see some grownups other than the hospital staff and I was there except for about 2-3 hours each night to go home, shower, feed the cats, check the mail, etc. I still remember those visits, even the 15 minute ones. When she was on her road to recovery, two co-workers came over with Subway sandwiches and we all had lunch. What a treat to get a break from the hospital food!

A tradition for me: when a loved one loses a loved one, I mark the occasion on the first Christmas by sending a poinsettia plant with a card saying something like “Remembering you on Don’s first Christmas in heaven…” I’ve also sent a plant on the expected due date of someone who’s suffered a painful miscarriage. These normally come at times when all the help and meals and cards have stopped and the person is still left alone in grief.

Thanks for all the great meal ideas for families in crisis–it’s so important!

When a tornado went over our home, doing considerable damage, a lady came by one day with peanut butter/jelly sandwiches and bottled water! It was so incredibly thoughtful.

Trying doubling or tripling some of your meals and stick in your freezer for the times you hear of a family in need. Either reheat it or give it frozen for their use when most convenient.

I’ve also taken one ready-to-eat and one frozen meal to a family after a death, knowing that it’s after the crowds go home that they’ll appreciate having a meal in their freezer.

And always make sure the dinner is in disposable containers so there is no clean up or need to return dishes. Dollar stores usually carry aluminum baking pans.

-adding something for us to snack on between meals: cookies, carrot sticks, whatever
-bringing it by in dishes that don’t need to be returned, and making sure we *know* they don’t need to be returned
-*healthy* meals; I cook extremely healthy food for my household on an ongoing basis, and while under added stress, our bodies don’t need the added stress of a lousy diet. While we appreciate *anything* that’s brought by that we don’t have to cook, healthy fare is especially appreciated.
-bringing something by that doesn’t necessarily need to be eaten right away, like chicken salad and rolls, so we can eat it whenever we’re hungry

And one thing I think should be a “requirement” when taking food – take the recipe, too! lol We have been brought some really, really yummy things, and I always have trouble tracking down the recipes afterward! (This would also help those who might have food sensitivities to know if there are any issues with anything that was brought.)