Frequently Asked Questions
How does a Collective work?
Unless otherwise specified, Comfort Food Service will deliver kosher-style meals. When in doubt, choose Vegetarian or Kosher options. No refunds or replacements will be given for customer errors in food preference. Food preference options are:
- Friends and family contribute money to the Collective. Each person contributes the amount they choose. These funds are pooled together to send family meals and supplies to the Recipients. Meals are delivered for every day that the funds collected cover the cost, with cards signed by the Participants…it’s not one participant sponsoring one meal; it’s the entire community collectively sponsoring the entire meal service, sustaining the family in total. The more participants in the Collective, the more complete the food service will be.
- Any amount is gratefully accepted. The greater the funds collected, the more complete the food service will be.
- Contributions to the Collective will cover meals and snacks to accommodate the needs of the Recipient as determined by Comfort Food Service. The greater the number of participants and funds collected, the more complete the service will be.
- Yes. A thoughtful card listing all of the participants’ names is attached to every delivery.
- Yes. You may remain anonymous if you’d like, but please consider how much it means to the Recipient to know that you care…
- Yes, Participants’ names are listed under the Recipient to which they contributed, unless they choose to remain anonymous.
- Be the first to register them! Anyone can send items through Comfort Food Service. Simply fill out the REGISTER NEW FAMILY form and we will immediately create a Collective and send you the link. You'll be able to place funds on the account and also forward the link to invite friends to participate as well. Once the delivery minimum is met, we will begin deliveries. Remember, the more participants who contribute, the more complete the service will be, and the further the dollars will stretch.
- Lack of required information could delay your order. If you don’t have the information readily available, just input what you know. Be sure to include a phone number so that we may call you if needed to process your order.
- We do our best to maintain the security of the recipients. Full addresses are not posted.
- Comfort Food Service provides several identifying details to match contributions to the correct Recipient, while doing our best maintain their security. If you feel uncertain about the delivery information, please do not hesitate to contact us to confirm.
- No. Each Collective is limited to one delivery address. All funds and orders are pooled for one daily delivery, once minimum is met.
- Yes. We ship baskets or arrange for platters to be delivered in other cities. If a single order or portfolio is created for an out of town Recipient, new Participants may add to that particular Collective, and Comfort Food Service will send items accordingly.
- Dinner for the family is usually the meal provided. For houses of mourning, breakfast foods and sweet or snack platters are often sent as well.
- It is not necessary to provide meals for visitors. Visitors might partake in little nibble or a beverage, but they know that it is not appropriate to sit down to a meal.
- If the Collective has not raised enough funds for a dinner, an appropriate alternative will be sent. Some examples are breakfast service, dessert or snack platters, coffee service, etc.
- Comfort Food Service meal packages usually feed 10-12 people. For larger groups, multiple packages are prepared. For smaller groups, we can deliver every other day.
- For houses of mourning, specifically, each night, the mourners gather for dinner. This group includes the immediate family of the Departed, plus their immediate families. (Example: if the Departed’s daughter is a mourner, expect his son-in-law and grandchildren will certainly be there). Please count accordingly.
- Each delivery serves a minimum of 10-12 people. We are happy to accommodate larger groups as specified.
- Tasty, balanced daily meals are designed and delivered by Comfort Food Service, as Daily Specials. Although participants are not able to choose the menu, sample menus can be viewed.
Unless otherwise specified, Comfort Food Service will deliver kosher-style meals. When in doubt, choose Vegetarian or Kosher options. No refunds or replacements will be given for customer errors in food preference. Food preference options are:
- Kosher Style (default). Foods follow traditional guidelines, but are not certified Kosher. Foods contain no shellfish or pork, dairy and meat items are not mixed. Meats are not certified kosher.
- Vegetarian, Fish, or Dairy. Kosher by default; no meat, shellfish, or pork.
- Kosher. Prepared items contain only kosher ingredients and kosher meats. Preparation is not supervised.
- Glatt Kosher. All packaged items are certified by nationally accepted accrediting agencies. Prepared foods contain all Kosher ingredients, and preparation is supervised.
- All foods are delivered ready to eat, and should be consumed or safely stored as soon as possible.
- Utensils and dinnerware are not included.
- Our website accepts orders 24/7. Most orders received by 6:00 pm can be delivered the next day (except Saturdays and some holidays), provided the minimum amount for delivery is met. Breakfast items require 24 hours advance notice for timely delivery.
- The minimum amount is $250 combined total, per delivery. Comfort Food Service will combine orders to reach the minimum for daily delivery and reserves the right to hold orders until delivery minimum is met.
- Assuming minimum is met, Comfort Food Service attempts one daily delivery (except Saturdays and Jewish holidays), usually in the middle of the day. We attempt to coordinate a delivery window, and text message the Recipient when delivery is on its way. It is expected that someone will be home to receive deliveries during the day.
- Deliveries cannot be re-attempted or re-routed. We usually arrange a delivery window with the Recipient. If no one is available to accept delivery at the agreed upon time, Comfort Food Service will attempt to leave the order with a neighbor/doorman and leave a message for the recipient. If an earnest attempt is made to deliver, but no one is available to receive delivery, the order will be returned to Comfort Food Service, but considered fulfilled. In the rare case of undeliverability, no refunds or replacements will be allowed.
- Ideally, yes, assuming the Collective covers minimum daily delivery requirements. If the Collective has not acquired enough funds to qualify for delivery, then Comfort Food Service reserves the right to hold delivery until the Collective reaches the minimum amount. No deliveries are scheduled on Saturdays or some holidays.
- Comfort Food Service will make its best effort to work within the account’s means. Should there be a surplus on account, Comfort Food Service will continue to deliver meals to the Recipient until funds are depleted, or will donate the balance on account to the charity of the Recipient's choice.