<p>I’m hosting an upcoming phone bank in my home, and as the day approaches I’m getting nervous. Our house isn’t that big so we’ll be putting people in every room, which stresses me out. What kind of food and/or drink do I need to serve? It’s mid-afternoon, so not during a mealtime, but it’s three hours so I feel compelled to have something – and I’m Southern so I’m really compelled to have a lot of things!</p>
<p>Any suggestions from experienced phone bankers?</p>
<p>I’ve never hosted one, but I have participated. Water is a must, coffee/tea is nice-- from all the talking you do. When I have done them it was rapidfire calling, to get to as many calls as possible in the period of time allotted, and you can’t eat and talk on the phone at the same time… so I might put out some easy, quick-to-eat snacks just to be hospitable but I wouldn’t give it much thought.</p>
<p>Excellent, Ema! That’s the kind of sensible advice I needed. I was going to try to limit the drinks and do more food, but plenty of drinks for constantly talking callers makes perfect sense.</p>
<p>I agree with Ema: coffee and/or tea, water, maybe some diet soda or flavored seltzer. Very simple food along the lines of some cookies, some cheese and crackers, and some vegetables and dip. (Those would cover just about all dietary needs and provide sustenance to those who need it. The worst thing to me, personally, is to go to a meeting or something like a phone bank when I didn’[t have time for a meal and find nothing but an array of sweets and fruit. Very common.) And cocktail napkins. :)</p>
<p>So I guess we are not discussing using your phone to check account balances, pay bills, make transfers, and other banking chores?</p>
<p>It seems to be hosting a call center, right? I volunteered once. We got water.</p>
<p>I think probably calling for a political campaign/cause, or maybe a non-profit. It is a way of allowing a group of volunteers to get together and make calls with others for a specific issue or candidate. Everyone brings their own cell phone (although I think there were a couple provided by the organization last time I did it). You get a brief training and a script, then go make calls.</p>
<p>Don’t forget to have some rulers and pencils available. Maybe some lemon drops.</p>
<p>Yep. Calls being made on behalf a political organization.</p>
<p>acting, my mama would kill me if I only had water for guests!</p>
<p>I think the organization will bring all the supplies needed. I just want to have a pleasant environment for them.</p>
<p>I suggest neat finger food. You don’t want something that gets your fingers all messy, because then you have to pick up your phone and it gets gunky. Pieces of fruit, cut-up vegetables, pieces of cheese, cookies, pretzels, candy: that sort of thing.</p>
<p>LOL. I wasn’t suggesting you only provide water. But, that’s all we got when I did it. I don’t think we were considered guests, either. I’m sure your event will be much more pleasurable.</p>