Care Pack Project
The other day, my friend Ashlee blogged about putting together care packets for the homeless. She was inspired by her friend (who was inspired by Pinterest, it seems!) and I was inspired by all of them.
Most people have reservations about giving cash to someone begging on a street corner. I am not sure I agree it is wrong, but there are definitely times I don’t feel it is right for us to do. However, when someone is asking, I feel we should always give in a way that is helpful.
It is not our place to judge how someone got on the street, but it should be our place to encourage them in any way we can. Inspiration today can trigger something that may even be helpful years down the road. You never know what the ripple effect of your actions will be (the best part of a ripple is that we may never see the rings far away, and it is so much purer that way). That is why we need to always be present in our communities, no matter how small of an action we may think we are doing.
Ashlee and friends have given the gift of an idea almost all of us can do for others- small care packages.
Fill ziplock bags with nonperishable items and keep it in your car, so when someone is asking for money you can hand them a care package instead.
The boys loved helping shop and organize the bags.
They also made cards to put in each one.
Here is what we put in each bag:
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Bandages
- Soap
- Washcloth
- Emergen- C
- Tuna/chicken salad cracker kits
- Cliff bars
- Bottled water
- Advil
- A few quotes along with the boys’ cards
- List of local homeless resources
Have you ever noticed we attempt to separate ourselves from people we consider “tainted” or “dirty?” There is something that makes us fearful (sometimes, understandably) of groups of people like the homeless. Unfortunately, it is widening the divide and hurting people on both sides. Something as easy as passing out a package from your car window may be a great first step in bringing our community (all of us) closer together.
We need to remember our actions are shaping the quiet little minds in the backseat. By avoiding eye contact and pretending we don’t see who is clearly there, we are teaching our children to shun an entire group of people. They need community with people who will love and help them as much as the rest of us! Regardless of their circumstances that placed each person where they are, we are to love and uplift one another.
