How to Plan a Church Potluck Menu
A church potluck is no different from a potluck at the office. You need to arrange a list of items for the meal, and a way to ensure all of those items make it to the table. If the church pitches in for the main course, the members can provide everything else.
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Instructions
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Arrange a date and location of the dinner with the church officials. In most cases, the churches own facilities should be fine, but seek help from the church if some off-site location is necessary. Ask the church about providing the main dish, which will keep any one member from having to shoulder a major expense.
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Set up a sign-up sheet at least three weeks ahead of the potluck. This sheet, which should be available in physical form at the church and online, must repeat the date and location of the dinner. It also needs to say every person that signs up needs to list the number of people coming and what that person or family will bring to the potluck. Include a deadline on the sheet so everyone can have an idea of how much food is needed at the party.
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The sign-up sheet can include other details if you need more control over the offerings. For example, if you know the church is providing the main course, name that on the sheet, and then list what items are needed for the rest of the dinner. That way the church members can claim certain items to bring by listing that item next to their names.
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Include side items like paper plates, plastic silverware, cups, and napkins in the planning process. These items can be on the "please bring" list all along. Church members unable to cook may volunteer to bring these items so they can still participate in the potluck.
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Add a note to the list that every member is welcome to the potluck even if they can't bring a food item. However, request a small donation, no more than $5, from those members to help defer the cost of the main food item.
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Tips & Warnings
Another option is to assign members to bring exact food items. This works best if you know what dishes members specialize in, and the rest of the church looks forward to those dishes. It also helps ensure you can get a full meal since the sign-up process could produce a lot of of one object and nothing of another.
Kids are picky, so it is a good idea to have someone bring hot dogs, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
