How to get started as a Ward Food Storage Specialist

[AZ Prepper]

What has your ward/stake done to help Ward Food Storage Specialists get started and better fulfill their callings?

Please share your thoughts, ideas, etc.

[KarinS]

I don't think wards do much at all to help a Ward Food Storage Specialist get started... It's like most callings, if you don't have a stake leader to help guide you, then you're on your own. Well, you know what I mean... you do have the Lord's help and a blessing when you're set apart in the calling.

I was called as the specialist in 2002. I was also teaching Primary and was Girl's Camp Director. But when my Bishop called me into his office for the calling, he said he wanted every family in the ward to have their food storage and the entire time he was telling me this he was pounding the desk with his fist. I got the impression he was SERIOUS! I was eventually weened from my other callings and was working the FS full time.

So here are a few things that I do...

* When our stake has a time slot at the dry pack cannery I send out a signup sheets for maybe 3 or 4 items. Members sign up and pay me before I go and we "can" these items. I expect those who sign up to go with me every 3rd time they sign up to purchase something. If they slack and don't come out to help, then I won't do it for them. So through the year we can every item at least twice. Also, when you come out to help, we'll help can whatever they want.

* I place an announcement in the ward Sunday bulletin each and every Sunday

* I write an article for the ward monthly newsletter

* About every 2 months I conduct a group sale. Examples... hand warmers, sanitation kits (toilets), seeds, gloves and masks, etc. In the fall I have a chocolate sale and in the spring I have a spice sale. I have TWO rules, you must pay upfront and I will NOT deliver (well, except for one sweet lady in Syracruse). Sometimes I have items in my garage for months that need to be picked up.

* I will also go to members and nonmembers home and help them evaluate their needs and set goals on food storage. And also help them inventory.

* I also send out items my stake leader sends me. Examples... once a week I send out Good Sales of the week, any and all articles on food storage, etc. I do this via the internet. I probably have over 200 people on my "Food Storage Email" list. When I have a group sale, I'll get calls from EVERYWHERE because when I send out my emails to my list, then those people forward them on to otheres, and they send it to their friends...

Hmmm, there's probably more, but I can't think of what... (I'll just have to add another post if I think of something).

[KarinS]

I'll start posting the Good Sales I get onto the Trading Post forum. I get them every Wednesday.

[Carinslp]

I agree that there is no "manual" for the ward level, and it takes creativity. I have done this for several years now and have done many of the things that you suggest. I also have researched and held classes. I now have a ward blog where I try to "teach" mini-classes in a post. People get so busy, and they don't have the time or inclination to leave their homes once they get there. So, thus the blog. I am going to try something else that is new for me, I will attempt to teach on-line classes that I will try to keep to one hour. This way, individuals and sit in their slippers and eat bon-bon's during the class if they wish. There is a service called Dim-Dim that has a free option for up to 20 people. After that number, you do need to purchase a package, which I have primarily for my husband's business. I will try it and see how it goes. Somethings won't lend themselves to this, but I have powerpoints, videos, etc and they will work great in this format. I'll let you know how it goes.