How can I have a Christmas dinner delivered anonymously?

November 20, 2008 7:58 AM

How can I have a Christmas dinner delivered anonymously?

I would like to have a Christmas dinner delivered to a low-income family of my acquaintance who are otherwise unlikely to have one. They're in a suburb of Philadelphia; I'm on the other side of the country. I want to do this anonymously because I don't want them to feel a sense of obligation towards me.

I tried to do something similar once before through Pepperidge Farms, but they included a packing slip with my name on it (which of course they had because I paid with a credit card) even though they had assured me they wouldn't do that.

Any suggestions on how to get this done would be appreciated.

posted by anonymous to food & drink (10 comments total)

Call a local (not chain) restaurant, perhaps a local grocery store.

Explain the situation, explain that you'd like it to be anonymous, offer to cover a delivery charge. Most places will be happy to help.
posted by unixrat at 8:14 AM on November 20, 2008

Hey, it doesn't have to be delivered, you could send them to buffet. Google has these results for buffet and christmas dinner, so calling around might enable you to arrange delivery or reservations for them to a restaurant. Don't know your price range though.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:42 AM on November 20, 2008

I worked in a restaurant where we got a lot of reservations made with a credit card, prepaid.

You could deliver them a note, anonymously, telling them that a reservation has been made at restaurant X for Y time to enjoy a delicious christmas meal. You leave the restaurant with your credit card information (and a tip %) and they will bill you.
posted by scabrous at 8:53 AM on November 20, 2008

Pardon my skepticism but if food were to anonymously show up at my door you can be sure the next location it would inhabit would be the garbage. Even if this food was delivered by a local restaurant.
posted by 517 at 9:26 AM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

What suburb of Philly? I might know someone nearby...
posted by kdern at 9:26 AM on November 20, 2008

However you manage this, please do arrange for the family to know in advance.
posted by rjt at 9:39 AM on November 20, 2008

Send them a gift card to their local supermarket chain in a substantial amount. (Say, $200)
Here's a link to buying ShopRite cards over the web.
ShopRite locations in Philly

This will allow them to buy the food they want to eat, plus perhaps something for their cupboard later.
posted by anastasiav at 10:10 AM on November 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

Seconding the gift card idea. I, too, would be extremely dubious of anonymously delivered food. Sad but true.
posted by HotToddy at 10:44 AM on November 20, 2008

When I was working with formerly homeless families we did the supermarket card thing, though I'm sure a local restaraunt would be willing to hook something like this up anonymously. You need to be more specific than Philly suburbs, though, at least a county name would help figure out who's in delivery range.
posted by The Straightener at 10:55 AM on November 20, 2008

Buy packaged foods appropriate to a holiday, box them securely, have them delivered by a friend. Include a grocery store gift card for the fresh stuff.
posted by theora55 at 1:31 PM on November 20, 2008