Homeless Gift Bags

Summer time is when more homeless folks tend to sleep outside if it is nice weather, rather than be in the shelters...I can understand, as when I was homeless I preferred to sleep outside when I was by myself, and "camp". It is hard to be in shelters ...feeling so overcrowded and sometimes when you have other issues to deal with, being in a shelter is just too much for you.

Folks tend to want to give to the shelters alot at Christmas time, which is wonderful....but I am wondering if there is a way to help get church groups to help at other times during the year so that the homeless folks havve supplies all year.

I think that if we could get various groups to create "homeless gift bags" to give out at other times of the year other than just at Christmas, it would benefit them a great deal.

Here are my thoughts of gift ideas to put in the gift bags:

- socks ( which are desparately needed all the time)
- toothbrush and tooth paste ( can be travel size)
- nail kit ( nail clippers, file board etc)
- travel size shampoo and conditioner ( can be the 2 in 1 kind which is good)
- combs
- deck of playing cards ( these are popular at our shelter)
- hats ( to help keep the sun off head, or to keep warm at night time)
- travel alarm clock ( there are several homeless folks that need one to go to work)
- deodarant
- soap
- restaurant coupons ( Macdonalds, Tim Hortons, other fast food places)
- travel mugs
- a journal and pen ( even colored pencils would be wonderful as there are many artists)
- gum

These are just a few ideas to put together, then you could arrange to meet as a group and go to the parks and other places that the homeless community tend to gather and hand out bags....these would be so appreciated. It would be good to do this in small groups, and not by yourself if you are not comfortable.

Another idea would be to do a blanket drive...get together with several other groups and gather blanket to give out to the homeless...these could even be given to the shelters also. Many shelters have a clothing room that homeless folks can get a clean supply to help them...Blankets seem to be in short supply at most times and it is hard for folks to keep warm at night time.

Some church groups get together with the ladies ministry and either knit, quilt or crochet blankets...these are wonderful!!!!

Blessings,
Kimberley

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