Assign food distribution volunteers without breaking the rules

About this exercise

You coordinate Saturday's food distribution and need to text volunteers their stations. You want exactly 6 numbered lines (3 stations x 2 shifts), each as shift - station - name, under 60 words, plain text. Each volunteer gets one slot, minors can't work the loading dock, everyone fits their availability, and use the replacement for the volunteer who canceled. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Not stating the rules. The AI fills slots in list order and puts a teen on the loading dock. Try: Add: "Loading dock is 18+ only. Each person one slot."
• Ignoring availability. The AI puts Bill in the late shift or Gus in the early one. Try: Add: "Bill 8-10 only, Gus 10-12 only."
• Missing the cancellation. Fay is in the sign-up list, so the AI may still assign her. Try: Add: "Fay canceled; Gus replaces her."
• Letting the AI pick the layout. The AI builds a grid table that breaks in a text message. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 6 numbered lines like '1. 8-10 - Check-in - Ana'. Plain text."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 60 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "each line under 8 words."

What a strong prompt includes

• Says how many lines
• States the age rule
• Uses availability
• Handles the cancellation
• Shows the line shape

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