Gift Bags for the Homeless
"So, you ask yourself, "Self, what can I do? How can I help homeless people, even though I don't have much?"
Well, there IS something you can do. There are many things that homeless people usually do without, that sometimes seem insignificant, but homeless would be very happy to receive.
This is a project you can do rather inexpensively - and you can make this a project to do with friends, or your Church group, and share the expense - and you can include people of all age groups.
Get some paper lunch bags and fill them with little goodies. This is just a list of things I can think of, that everyone on the streets would need and appreciate. You might have your own good ideas too. -- "travel size" tooth paste and tooth brush and deodorant. A pair of new or clean socks (it's hard to keep feet healthy on the street) nail clippers, a comb, a bar of soap, gloves when it's cold out, a disposable razor, etc. Then add something special, like little Halloween size candies, a personal note that says "I care". You could even decorate the bags with drawings of happy faces and hearts - yeah, even mean ol' grumpy homeless guys like that kind of stuff - even if they don't admit it.
Once you have your care packages together, take them to where homeless people hang out - wherever it's safe for you too. If you aren't a proper adult, bring along proper adult supervision. And personally hand out the packages. Just try to plan to have enough for each homeless person.
Now it does happen sometimes, when you do this, that a street person will then ask you for something you don't have, or you are uncomfortable with giving. Just tell them that the packages are all you have right now, and that you're sorry you can't help more. Sometimes they will try to make you feel guilty so they can get more out of you. Be polite but firm. If you set, and hold to your limits, they will respect you for it. This is a great way of giving. I have received such packages myself - they've always been a blessing."
Published by Billy Cole
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13 Comments
Post a CommentYou've written that u believe u r " addicted" to homelessness per se however I don't think that's possible! Rather , I think u may be addicted to dependency, to mooching itself. It's high time u stopped begging by IMMEDIATELY getting a temporary labor job! You must dwell in some gritty urban area so dozens of agencies must be within a mile from your place. It's simple , really, just show up at 5am SHARP!! The early transient gets the job! 1 day's pay would pay for a week's bus fare and loads of laundry. It's great u r dating a young? !! lady, but how do u pay for dates? If she's a "sugar daughter" and pays for everything, mebbe she could advance u a little cash- to be repaid with ur first check , of course - and take u shopping for steel-toed boots and bib overalls! Sort of like a gender reversal skid row parody of the film " Pretty Woman"! lol Mebbe u could even go out to a laundromat as a date! Good luck!
ur DAD sounds like a great guy! he took the time to play with u and tried to impart valuable lessons about the dog-eat-dog nature of society .u shouldn't blame him for ur FAILURE to interpret his teaching properly! there is often a chasm between the intentions behind the words of a wise man and what a dullard can grasp!! He may have stopped playing chess with u when he realised he had nothing more to teach u. now that is a compliment that would motivate a NORMAL boy to try to topple mightier opponents. but nooo, not u! So, r u an insecure weakling who prizes warmth, safety and touchy-feely harmony over winning and dominance? NO, NOT really. u just tell urself that! In fact , u want to win , win BIG even, but u know u lack the ego strength, empathy, perseverance & talent to make anything worthwhile happen! Thus , u BLAME the people u should love & respect all the while fancying urself as some kind of saint! please stay in supportive housing! u need caseworker supervis
ur own blogging experience disproves middle-brow journalist Malcolm Gladwell's pat conclusion that "practice makes perfect"! TALENT MATTERS! u've been blogging for almost a decade & yet ur writing ability has actually deteriorated. please give up blogging and start showing ur love for that grease pit " las palmas" by getting a job there! u r qualified enough to tear up lettuce , scour pots, whatever.
Re: your ur " laptop hunters" post. It's great u can laugh at urself now. At last , u can understand how others see u and why they avoid u. Having a gsoh about urself is an essential social skill which will enable u to tolerate wearing 1 of those clown suit fast food worker uniforms ! So may I congratulate u for landing a job? Or r u still sitting on your hands waiting for ur temp housing to run out? I sincerely hope u r not still pestering kind folks for money , trading dignity for dollars as it were . Look, I'd really like to be able to congratulate u for making good but praise & approval need to EARNED. Cynics would say that one can't teach a crusty old transient morals & basic human decency. R the cynics right??
Thank you for the insight. I am going to share this with others.
SOV, you assume too much. MrGumby and I are friends, although we have never met, he reads my blog often, and I have sent him many thanks for his contributions to my cause. Quit trying to stir up trouble where there is none.
I disagree strongly with what "sov" said. I think that bags are a wonderful way to contribute. I feel like it's an attainable goal to be able to put together gift bags. No, I probably couldn't afford donating $20 to each person in need, but at least I can donate something with these bags.
I noticed today that you spewed resentful sarcasm at a certain mrgumby66 for sending you a mere $2.86 ! Yet the hygiene bags you suggest people give to fellow homeless people just like you, probably would cost little more than that . And what's with "travel size ? Most bums I see on the bus need super size deodorant.
Wonderful article. I linked my blog to this article so other readers could learn to make Homeless Gift Bags. Thank you for the inspiration!
I am a regular reader of your site and plan on doing this for the shelter we have here in town , and include my husband and children in the activity.....
good luck in your endevors and know we are all praying for you