Frequently asked questions | iLunch

How iLunch works: starting a free meal train or ride train, sharing your link, signing up to help, sending Uber Eats gift cards, reminders, and privacy.

What is iLunch?

iLunch is a free website for organizing meal trains and ride trains. You set up a schedule for someone going through a big life moment, share a link, and friends and family claim days to bring a meal or give a ride.

Is it really free?

Yes. iLunch is free to use — no fees, no ads, and no paid tiers. Helpers spend money only on the food or gift cards they choose to give.

Do I need to create an account?

No. There are no accounts and no app to download. Everything runs on links: an admin link for the organizer, a setup link for the recipient, and a public link you share with helpers.

What's the difference between a meal train and a ride train?

A meal train coordinates who brings dinner on which day. A ride train coordinates who drives someone to appointments — treatments, physical therapy, or regular check-ups. iLunch supports both.

How do I start a train?

Go to Start a train, enter the recipient's name and a start date, and you'll instantly get your links. The whole thing takes under a minute.

How do people sign up to help?

You share the public link by text, email, WhatsApp, or Facebook. Helpers open it, pick an open day, and enter their name and what they're bringing — or which ride they'll cover.

Will helpers get reminders?

Yes. Helpers who share their email get an automatic reminder before their day, with the drop-off or pickup details, so nothing slips through the cracks.

Can the recipient add their own details?

Yes. The recipient gets a setup link where they can add their address, food preferences, allergies, and the best times for drop-offs — so the organizer doesn't have to know everything up front.

I lost my admin link. Can I get back in?

Yes. If you added your email when creating the train, use the Sign in page and we'll send you a recovery link.

How do gift cards work?

Can't cook or live too far away? When you sign up for a day, you can choose to send an Uber Eats gift card instead of bringing a meal. Your day is marked on the calendar just like a home-cooked meal.

How does the gift card reach the recipient?

After you claim a gift-card day, iLunch shows you the recipient's preferred email or phone number for gift cards, plus a button that takes you straight to Uber Eats to buy and send it yourself.

Does iLunch handle the payment?

No. iLunch never touches money. You purchase the gift card directly from Uber Eats, and it goes straight to the recipient. We just handle the scheduling.

Who can see the train?

Only people with the link. Trains aren't listed publicly or searchable — you decide who gets the link and how widely it's shared.

Is the recipient's address visible to everyone?

Delivery details are shown to helpers who sign up, so they know where to bring the meal or pick someone up. The recipient's gift-card contact info is only revealed to someone who commits to sending a card.

Can a train be ended?

Yes. When the season of help is over, the organizer can wrap up the train from the admin page, and signups close.

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