I assumed it was a "polite" thing to do but the older I get the more I realize grieving people forget to eat. Bringing a dish guarantees the grieving family a meal or more through out the week. One less thing they have to do. (We do that at our Church for each other. When I spent 2 weeks in the hospital with my dad whom the doctors gave a 2% chance of survival, my church family each brought dinner over for my family. I can not tell you how much I truly needed that. It was one less thing I had to worry about. I will forever be grateful for their help. 😊)