Thanksgiving Meal Sign Up Sheet (free, online)

How to set it up

A community Thanksgiving meal is a catering job run by volunteers, and it needs the sheet of one. Two days before: turkeys to roast at home and bring in, pies, and a kitchen crew for the sides. The day of: setup, a serving line with a person per dish, a dining room crew to seat and clear, dishwashers, and drivers to take plates to people who can't come. Every one of those needs a time and a count, and the food rows need counts too.

The mistake is asking for 'turkeys' without saying how many or how big. Say 'roasted 14-pound turkey, carved, in a foil pan, delivered by 10 a.m.' and put a number on it. One tip: the delivery drivers are the last row anyone fills and the first one that matters to the people who need it. Put it near the top.

Questions people ask

How many turkeys?

A 14-pound turkey serves about 15 with sides. For 200 guests plus deliveries, plan on 15 turkeys. Put the number on the row and it closes when you have enough.

Can people help without cooking?

Yes, most do. Serving, seating, dishes and driving are the bulk of the spots. Make the cooking rows clear about what's involved so nobody signs up for a turkey by accident.

How do we handle deliveries?

A separate list for drivers with a count and a time window, and a note that routes will be handed out at the door. Ask for a phone number at signup so you can reach them on the day.

Why not a paper sheet or a Google Form?

A paper sheet lives in one place and fills up with the first people who walk past it. A Google Form takes forty signups for a row that needed two, and you find out in the spreadsheet. An online sign-up sheet closes each row when it's covered, sends a reminder the day before, and gives every person a link to cancel so the spot reopens. See the side-by-side with Google Forms.