Potlucks have been around forever, but they are still an effective way to feed a large number of people on a budget. You can be the host and offer your house as the gathering place, but ultimately you want to delegate responsibilities to the attendees. The potluck theme can extend beyond food, if you plan on entertaining people in different ways. You can have each guest bring their favorite CD or movie along with an assigned dish.
The idea behind the potluck is to allow all attendees to participate in making the event a success. If everyone contributes, they will feel like it is their party and won’t feel guilty for not helping in some way shape or form. This is an ideal situation, especially during a holiday where the focus is being thankful for what you have and not focusing on what you don’t have. The potluck puts everyone on the same level for that evening, even if some guests are otherwise struggling financially. It is important, especially with the recession still in place, to work together and build each other up. Who knows, your gathering could be just what someone needs and propel them into 2010 with a new attitude about life!