What you need for a 24-hour prayer gathering

A 24-hour prayer gathering needs more than chairs and a room. People will arrive, leave, eat, drink and rest at different times, so supplies must remain available overnight. Plan separate areas for prayer, refreshments and quiet breaks, and make access simple for anyone arriving during the night. Use your registration numbers and dietary information to set quantities, then add a small buffer for late arrivals and longer prayer shifts.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 70
Lounge cushionsqty 20
Clothes racksqty 2

Tableware

Reusable mugsqty 70
Drinking glassesqty 70
Platesqty 70
Cutlery setsqty 70
Serving spoonsqty 6

Kitchen

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 6
Coolersqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 3
Knivesqty 6
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving trays with lidsqty 4
Water jugsqty 6
Waste binsqty 4

Equipment

Wireless microphonesqty 2
Speakersqty 2
Audio mixer
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Pendulum clocksqty 2

Lighting

LED lampsqty 6
Mood lightingqty 4

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 8
Welcome sign
Directional signsqty 8
Candlesticksqty 6
Electric candlesqty 12

Cleaning

Cleaning scoopsqty 2
Bucketsqty 3
Mopsqty 3
Hand broomsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea assortment - 4 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Lemon - 2 kilos
- Honey - 2 jars
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Biscuits - 6 packs
- Spa Blauw - 10 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 6 bottles
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Bread - 12 loaves
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- Butter - 4 packs
- Low-fat margarine - 3 tubs
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Hummus - 8 tubs
- Peanut butter - 3 jars
- Jam - 4 jars
- Eggs - 60 pieces
- Yogurt - 8 liter
- Muesli - 4 packs
- Bananas - 6 kilos
- Apples - 6 kilos
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Carrots - 3 kilos
- Mixed salad - 8 bags
- Wraps - 10 packs
- Chicken breast slices - 2 kilos
- Vegetarian spreads - 8 tubs
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Nut mix - 4 bags
- Currant buns - 6 bags
- Pasta salad - 8 kilo
- Potato salad - 6 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Garlic powder - 1 jar
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 12 pieces
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 4 bottles

Tips

Plan 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then about 1 drink per person for every two additional hours. Include water, coffee and tea, and keep chilled drinks in coolers rather than relying on one refrigerator.
Allow 2 snack portions and 1 piece of fruit per person for every 6-hour period. Buy extra for the overnight block, when people are more likely to look for food between prayer shifts.
Provide one reusable mug and drinking glass per person, plus at least 10% extra. Plates, cutlery and serving spoons are easy to overlook when refreshments are served throughout the night.
Set up at least one well-lit route from the entrance to the prayer room, toilets and refreshment station. Keep extension cords and power strips away from walkways, and test microphones, speakers and lighting before the first prayer block.
Prepare the reception and refreshment stations before participants arrive, including signs and a contact list. Keep a small reserve of cups, snacks, tea and coffee ready for the overnight shift instead of packing everything away after the first hours.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a 24-hour prayer gathering?: Plan 2 snack portions and 1 piece of fruit per person for each 6-hour period. For a full 24 hours, that equals 8 snack portions and 4 pieces of fruit per participant, plus 10% extra for late arrivals and larger appetites.
How many drinks should I buy for a 24-hour prayer event?: Budget 2–3 drinks per person in the first hour and around 1 drink per person for every two hours after that. For overnight planning, allow at least 12–15 drinks per person across the full 24 hours, including water, coffee and tea.
How much tableware is needed for a prayer gathering?: Provide one mug, glass, plate and cutlery set per participant, plus 10% extra. For 30 people, prepare at least 33 of each item so supplies do not run out between cleaning rounds.
When should I buy supplies for a 24-hour prayer event?: Buy shelf-stable snacks, tea, coffee, tableware and signs 2–3 days beforehand. Purchase fruit and chilled drinks on the day itself, and chill drinks at least 4 hours before participants arrive.

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