Where to hire someone to clear/wash dishes for a party? archived

Not exactly what you're asking, but I had a neighbor who rented china and glassware for Thanksgiving. You don't have to wash it, just put it back in the crate!

Just moved this post to this board - no idea how it ended up in Local History the first time!

Don't know anyone you can hire (and I can't imagine it would be easy to find someone for Thanksgiving, but I could be wrong), but I'm wondering if you've spoken to mom about this? Let her know you all want to pitch in and you hate to see her work so hard and won't she let everyone help, and that you REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING?

Perhaps if you square it away AHEAD OF TIME and she knows everyone wants to be involved she'll be more accepting.

Not implying that you haven't thought of this, just kind of wondering out loud.

Otherwise, maybe contact local caterers and see if they have anyone they can recommend? I assume the people they use at events are freelance, not staff.

I agree with Meand- I finally gave up trying to do it all myself when my family let me know that they really wanted to help and that they were not enjoying themselves knowing that I had to do everything myself. I now accept whatever help is offered or if anyone wants to bring something even if it kind of clashes with my perfect picture, because you know what??? Someone wanted to do something for me to celebrate the holiday!!!
Maybe if you speak to your Mom and just let her know that it would be fun for everyone to get involved and that then she can enjoy her company she will ease up somewhat.
Happy Holidays! smile:

Nah, my mom's a stubborn lady. Just like bgs has finally given up and decided to accept the help that's offered, we've all finally given up after years of trying and decided to quit offering. At first, i thought maybe she didn't want to risk the teenagers pitching in and breaking her dishes, or my aunts putting the hand-wash-only silverware in the dishwasher. Or she didn't want to put a damper on the party by having people feel compelled to roll up their sleeves and work. But i've come to realize it might be more than that - like some sort of obsessive-compulsive need to do it herself. (She's been displaying other OCD-like behavior lately... or at least i'm noticing it more now that it's clicked that that's what it may be.) So hiring somebody is kind of an experiment to see if she'll chill out if there's someone unconnected to the family that she feels like she can instruct to do things exactly the way she wants. It could backfire, but if it works, it'd be one of the nicest things i could do for her to say thanks.

When I do Thanksgiving, I do the same thing as your mom. I'm organized in my kitchen, and people trying to help actually make more work for me. Like the song, I do it my way.

Papaya,

I agree w/ meand; if your mom wants to make herself nuts over cooking and setting up, that's a really personal thing. Cleaning up on the other hand? She *might* be willing to acquiesce if enough of you agree to do it and she doesn't think she is putting you out. That way it is done quickly, she can enjoy her children and grandchildren and you all can enjoy her.

I love to cook and I am very territorial in the kitchen when I am cooking. I have relinquished washing and cleaning up however; everyone pitches in. It's a great life.

ML

Last year my mom talked me into hosting Thanksgiving right after we moved in and while my wife was away by promising to do the whole clean up so it would be like it "never happened."

The clean up "never happened."

Wanna trade moms? Or better, post the clean up team once you find 'em.

J.B.

mary - i should've been more specific. the cooking and setup is no problem, because she knows there's no way she could get it all done on her own. i take off from work the day before, and we do a lot of it together. it's a nice bonding time that my mom and grandmother used to share every year when i was little.

its' really the time between when everyone (but her) sits down at the table to eat, until all of the dishes are cleared and cleaned/loaded into the dishwasher that i'm looking for assistance with. i called my friend who's had someone in to do this before, and unfortunately it was usually her cleaning woman or someone their caterer sent over. if i have the time, i'll call some caterers to see if they offer a similar service without the food. i'd just assumed this was more commonly done than it apparently is.

I was able to hire someone once for New Year's Eve so I imagine you can find someone for Thanksgiving. I can't remember the name of the person I used but I after some googling found a guy online who basically hires out staff like this. Basically she served, cleared and did dishes. I want to say it was somewhere around $250.

p.s. do you have a cleaning person who might be interested in doing something like this? Plenty of people who are new to this country have no attachment to the holiday and would be willing to work for cash.

I'm still hung up on the renting of china and glassware and putting them unwashed back into the crate. Sounds convenient, but in a disgusting way.