Well stated.The last time I checked this was a DISCUSSION forum where people come to get support and advice and to DISCUSS. If you think you've got something to add to the conversation please feel free to jump right in and add something to help the OP. Otherwise you aren't required to post to just be posting.
Exactly. This is a commercial operation no matter how you want to spin it. Anyone will be doing this as a COMMERCIAL donation, and must be credentialed appropriately. Having said that, I hope someone steps up to help out.Money transfer is not the sole determination. The meal can be considered a payment. Even there is no financial transaction, good well to the church is considered as donation and is commercial. This is also the reason why search and rescue can't use pilot without the license.
I think the easiest thing for people to remember in the vast majority of the cases when analyzing whether a flight will fall under hobbyist or commercial rules is...
If you need to ask, it's commercial.