Got a great "help the homeless idea" at work today

[supernova]

My two colleagues and I went out for our monthly lunch confab. One offered to drive the other two.

When we got in her van, one picks up a bag and says "What's this?"

Turns out it's a little survival kit to hand out when you get asked for money or food.

In the large food storage bag were single servings of food and trial size toiletries and such. Here's what I remember just from looking:

1 invidiual serving beenie weenies (I'm thinking you could sub any stew or hearty soup here)
1 individual serving fruit cup
Lance cheese crackers
Packet of several band aids
trial size hand sanitizer
Toothpaste and a toothbrush too, I think.
edit: Small bottle of water

There were other things that I can't remember. But I thought this was a wonderful idea. We liked the idea so much, she said she make up sample packs for us to take to others. :think: I'll post a complete list when I get it.

I think I'm going to make up a couple of these and always keep them on hand. I do give money sometimes, I don't really care what they do with it after the money leaves my hands. I figure if they are hungry enough, they'll use it for food. If they really need to drown their sorrows (whatever they are) they'll do that too.

But I'm always sorry I don't have some food to give, even if it just tides them over for a day.

[cally]

1. I like this idea

Does she carry them around when she walks in the city. I rarely get asked while I'm driving but I do see many homeless in the city.

[supernova]

4. They just started this

this past weekend.

The adult sunday school at my friends church made them up and handed them out to the rest of the congregation. She said one guy gave his away almost immidiately because someone asked for help when he stopped for lunch after church.

I don't walk a lot, I live in a rural area. But there are several large intersections where they ask for money. I can generally tell who is fundraising and who really needs help. Also whenever I'm in town, this would be a good idea.

[KitchenWitch]

2. My mom has started to do something similar

Packages of cheese and crackers and a bottle of gatorade

[Maat]

3. That's perfect!

My social-worker years taught me to always go for things that didn't perish easily (had long shelf lives). My favorites were cheese-and-cracker packages and peanut butter mini-jars. Drinks are pretty easy now - they are packaged well.

[bertha katzenengel]

5. it's a "why didn't i think of that" - and a big one

Great idea. Thanks, Supernova.

I've had a few people over the years turn food down, even once when I specifically bought a bag of groceries for a man who was panhandling outside a grocery store. :shrug: But that hasn't made me stop trying, or stop giving.

[supernova]

7. You go, Bertha

:hug:

But that hasn't made me stop trying, or stop giving

[RevCheesehead]

6. I don't encounter many homeless/panhandlers here...

but we do have a couple of good food pantries here. But I really like your idea. I'll keep it in mind when I'm back in a larger city church setting.

[AngryOldDem]

8. May I make a suggestion?

First, I think this is a good idea.

I work at a homeless shelter, and we hand out packs like this (minus the food) to guests on their first nights at the hotel. We used to have stockpiles of these packs, but we no longer have the daytime volunteers who can sit down and put these things together so that we have them readily on hand in the evenings. We try to give a pack to every new guest, but when we have upwards of hundreds of people coming in every night (I work with 42-50 homeless women, plus families), it gets hard to take the time to put together a pack on the spur of the moment. I try, but sometimes the pace is just too hectic, and I wish I had some ready-made kits at my fingertips.

Our packs include the following:

Sample size (hotel size) shampoo, conditioner; bar of soap (hotel size or full size); toothbrush, toothpaste (small tube); deodorant (small size); comb and/or brush; skin lotion. Some of our packs have washcloths.

I think it would be great if a group (church or otherwise) could just make it a project to put together these kits, and then take them down to their nearest homeless shelter. These packs do make a difference to someone who is new and often scared about where they are and why they are there. I know for a fact that guests really appreciate getting these things.

(Also, while I'm on my soapbox, shelters can always use toiletries of any kind and size, as well as diapers (all sizes), wipes...whatever. With the holidays coming up our donations will most likely pick up, but we are seeing our nightly numbers rise on an exponential basis. We go through things very quickly.)

Thanks for letting me butt in here. :hi:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Back when I was in Oregon and still on good terms with the county

Dem party (they froze me out because I disagreed with the county chair about funding the Contras--this was the 1980s), we had a Christmas party to which everyone was asked to bring a set of personal care items. Everyone brought a toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb, a small bottle of shampoo, and a bar of soap.

Later, when I worked with homeless youth in Portland, I learned how important supplies like this were, along with socks and underwear.

[AngryOldDem]

10. You know it

Right now for the women we have NO socks and NO underwear. (We do get a lot of the hospital-type "footies," but they're only good to keep feet warm on cold linoleum.)

I'm hoping that these items will pick up as people begin donating things for the holidays. But yes -- please add underwear (especially large sizes) to your list.