With winter nearing, as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, there are many opportunities to help those who are in need. Giving back to your community shouldn’t seem overwhelming; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you must volunteer every minute of your spare time to help the underprivileged. Remembering that “it’s the little things that count” can motivate anyone to do a ‘little’ something for the homeless and make a huge difference to them this season. Below are some ways you can contribute:
- Pre-make bag lunches (i.e., sandwich, crackers, fruit, juice, etc.) and hand them out to homeless people on the street. Bag lunches/sandwiches need not be elaborate (peanut butter, bologna, etc.), but enough food to know that someone won’t go hungry.
- Hand out food/meal certificates from local fast food restaurants so they can get something to eat.
- Buy canned goods or other non-perishable items and deliver to a food bank.
- Order an extra meal when you go eat out, or bring home leftovers, and offer the food to someone hungry who is living on the street.
- Provide warm blankets, sleeping bags, coats, sweaters, or other clothing. This type of donation can be made to homeless shelters, but if your contribution is small or you’re not part of an organized group, handing one coat or blanket directly to someone living on the street will make a world of difference.
- Donate soaps/shampoos/deoderants/toothbrushes/toothpaste to a shelter program.
- Give your recyclables. In many cases, homeless people collect aluminum cans and bottles as a way of making money. If you have some that can be recycled, give it to a homeless person.
Never directly give cash to a homeless person because all too often this well-intended gift is converted to drugs or alcohol. Don’t get me wrong… their hardship stories may be true, but if the person is truly hungry they’ll take the food and beverage you’re offering them.
And, of course, you can always find local soup kitchens or shelters in your area if you do want to go the distance and volunteer some of your time. Shelters need volunteers all the time.
If you have additional ideas on how to help the homeless this season, please feel free to comment. No one should be cold or hungry this holiday season.
