One thing that you may not know about our family is that we are really passionate about caring for the homeless. Creating a homeless care package can be one fantastic way that your entire family can be involved in caring for the homeless. Today we want to provide a checklist of supplies for the homeless, a local resources sheet you can print out (if you are in our area), and some tips for involving the whole family in this project.
This month Walmart let me choose a project that I was passionate about for the holidays and showcase how families could recreate it in their own homes. As I always disclose, I am compensated for my writing, BUT instead of accepting the compensation, we invested what I would have earned along with the gift card budget Walmart gave me to give back to the homeless in our community.
These homeless care packages can be prepared for your local homeless shelters or kept tucked away in the trunk of your car for those you may see on the street looking for your help. I love feeling armed in these situations and these kits are a simple way to show how much you care.
I wouldn’t be truthful if I didn’t tell you that my husband inspires me every day with his giving heart. Last winter, he was coming home late from work because he would see people in need and run to stores to get them supplies and gift cards.
That is his heart.
That is why I love him.
If there is one thing I firmly believe in, it is that giving should be a family affair. We have to lead our children by our example. I want my children to remember that what made our family special is that we always gave with our whole hearts.
My kids assisted in every aspect of this project. My son came with me and did the number crunching on a good old-fashioned calculator, my daughter helped sort and organize all of the items we bought, and both kids helped fill the bags with all of the necessary items.
Here Are My 3 Essential Elements to a Great Homeless Care Package
Feed Their Needs- One of the greatest gifts you can give to someone who is homeless is personal hygiene items and food to nourish their bodies. Begin by picking up items that will satisfy this area in their life first. Simple items like shampoo, a razor, deodorant, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb, a bar of soap, and tissues are great items to keep on hand.
Food like granola bars, crackers with peanut butter, trail mixes, dried fruits, and a bottle of water are also great items to tuck into your bags. If you have the funds, small denominator gift cards (we did $5 Walmart gift cards) can also be great to give so that they can pick up a meal or item(s) they might need.
Provide Warmth- We live in Indiana and the winters here are brutal. I can’t imagine how cold it would be to stand on the streets without the proper items I need for warmth. Add items like thermal boot socks, gloves, scarves, and hats to your gift bags. Items like these may seem out of your financial reach, but I found all of these at the dollar store and the sets of gloves were a mere $.50 each.
Feed Their Souls- I am sure it goes without saying, but feeding someone’s soul is just as important as feeding their needs. You can feed their souls in a variety of ways depending on your families beliefs and resources. We created a local resources list (available for local residents to download) that they can tap into for further resources in our town. A note that lets them know that they are on your prayer list, a note of encouragement by your children, or a scripture that you find comforting can also be excellent additions.
God has been so good to us, but 10 years ago we were in a very different place than where we are now. My husband was unemployed for almost an entire year, our financial situation was a house of cards, and my heart was in a bad place. Although I don’t like to admit it, I wondered what my purpose on this earth even was. I never have forgotten that dark place and it is why we still try to be so careful with the resources we have been given and why I have such a tender place in my heart for those who are struggling.
Being careful though doesn’t mean that you can’t be a giver. There are fantastic ways to give, both big and small, around the holidays. Be sure to check our list of ten painless ways to give back to charities to help you get started. I call these smaller ways to give the, “scraps of life giving.” I have talked a lot about that with my partnership with Pure Charity this month as well!
One more thing, did you know today just so happens to be GIVING TUESDAY? It is the perfect day to start a giving project with your family!
We want to help you give back to your community! Here are some resources to do just that!
Grab our Free Homeless Supply Checklist for your your care packages. Don’t just click on the picture, head to this link to grab a full-size PDF version!
Grab our Local Resources List for your care packages (if you don’t live in Michiana, you can use this as a template for your own sheet)! Don’t just click on the picture, head to this link to grab a full-size PDF version!
How do you give back in your community? How do you teach your kids to be givers?
Pin ItI am a part of the Walmart Moms program, and Walmart has provided me with compensation for these posts. For this project, all compensation was invested in aiding our area homeless. My participation is voluntary and opinions are always my own.
the timing of this post is so perfect…
Last night I watched Frontline on PBS called “Poor Kids” and remembered the responsibility to help these families does not lie with the government, but with us!!!
thank you for sharing this!
it is by far the “BEST IDEA CHRISTMAS POST” I’ve ever seen!!!
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Amy Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Oh, you are so sweet! I agree, it has to start with us. I am so thankful for your sweet words today!
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Alisa Reply:
December 9th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
You might also check with your school district if they have children. All our local schools have a homeless laison who works to get food, clothing and housing for homeless families.
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Thank you for writing about this important topic. Very inspiring!
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Amy Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Thank you so much, Amy! It is a topic that is near and dear to our family’s heart!
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Wonderful idea, Amy, and a cause that hits especially close to home this season.
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Amy Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Your family has been in our thoughts and prayers! Love you!
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Absolutely LOVE this idea! I am moved by how giving your entire family is. What an example for your kids!
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Amy Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
Thank you so much, Meagan! My husband really set the example for this and its importance in our life. I am a very lucky lady!
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You and your family have inspired me to help! Thank you so, so much!
Blessings!
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Amy Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Oh, Trish, thank you for saying that! You have touched my heart!
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I volunteer at an inner-city shelter for women and children. I recommend the book Same Kind of Different as Me to learn more about street people (I call them street people because I don’t know if a stranger is homeless).
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Amy Reply:
November 28th, 2012 at 7:22 am
Thank you for this book recommendation, Kristin! So proud of you for your volunteer work with your shelter!
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I love this post. I am in the middle of coordinating a SOCKS party here in Nashville. We are getting the big, thermal socks, and filling them with different items for the homeless. We’ve been fortunate to have my dentist donate the toothpaste and floss, and McDonald’s donated 1,000 Cards for a free dollar menu item. We also have tons of shampoo, conditioner, and soaps from hotels. We’ll stuff it with snacks, hand warmers, and other items (many on your list). We are getting together for our SOCK party and letting the kids stuff the socks and make the tags, which will say “I care”. The kids are excited and I love what it’s teaching them. Thanks for inspiring others to give back!
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Amy Reply:
November 29th, 2012 at 9:08 am
That is so wonderful, Tammi! I am so proud of you for doing this for your community. I love the socks idea!
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I LOVE this! I often keep granola bars and bottles of water on hand to pass out to the homeless people on the interstate exit corners – but I think the bag of useful items is fantastic.
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Amy Reply:
November 29th, 2012 at 10:53 am
That is so wonderful, Pam! I know those items mean a lot to those in need! Happy Holidays to your family! xoxo
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As truck drivers, my husband and I see many people standing on the exit ramps of the interstate highways. We give ziplock bags with toiletries, (in a separate bag) and foods like you mentioned, plus single serve packages of oatmeal, grits, hot cocoa, ect. I add pack of sugar, jelly, peanut butter, plasticware, napkins, whatever we get from the take out and fast food restarants. I also pick up dollarstore gloves, hats, socks, ect. We have added stamped postcards, Christmas cards and candy canes in season. Notepads and pens are welcomed as are throws we get at thrift stores. We were giving the gift books from the fast food places, but now they’ve gone to gift cards. Chapstick is a good idea, as are deodorants, comb, sanitary items for the women, (yes, we see homeless women and children too) We give small toys, stickers and tatoos for the kids. We stay in motels a lot and always ask housekeeping for extras.
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OH Amy, I just love this! I regularly carry around coupon books from various restaurants, but this goes even further. I love YOUR heart, you’re continually inspiring me. Taking the kids to Walmart this afternoon so we can make our own.
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LOVE this idea. You are a real inspiration. Having recently gone through the disaster of Hurricane Sandy, I can personally attest to how wonderful it is to have someone place a bag of necesseties in your hands. Keep up the good work, God Bless.
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This is a wonderful idea! I got so excited when I saw this-I immediatley began to think of other items that might be added, such a a bar of soap or bottle of body wash, plastic glass and mug, plastic cutlery and plate, tissues, pen and notebook, small clock, personal wipes, instant oatmeal packets, instant soup packets, hot chocolate packets, instant noodle packets, towel, facecloth, thermal blanket,, and in the summer, a sun hat, sunscreen, inexpensive umbrella and a fly swatter! Many of these things can be found on sale, at Walmart, and the dollar store. They don’t have to be bought all at once and do lend themselves as a project for a family, like yoursselves, or amongst a group of friends, a Sunday School class, a school class or a Brownie troup. May the Lord bless you and those whose lives you have reached by your kind, generous gifts, be blessed abundantly by our Loving Heavenly Father.
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My husband took our 2 year old son hiking near our house and ran across someone’s living area in the woods. It consisted of a cold, wet sleeping bag down by the river and a fire pit with a few rocks around it for seating. I told him I’d like to make a care package for this person and he said he’d deliver it for me. I went looking for care package ideas and stumbled across your blog. I can’t wait to put something together for this person. I currently make and deliver hot chocolate to a few homeless people I see on my way home from work (I work in downtown Chicago) and I pass out cold cans of pop in the summer. I also make plates of food from left-overs after work luncheons and pass them out after work. (I don’t consider this stealing because I know that by 4:30 anything left in the kitchen will be thrown away.) I know it isn’t not much, It won’t make a huge difference in the world, but it might make a world of difference to the person I’m helping. Thanks for the list. I’m glad to see there are others out there who are concerned for the homeless and actually do something about it. I hope the care package(s) I pass out, make the receiver(s) feel loved, thought of and cared for.
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Jennifer Reply:
April 9th, 2013 at 8:54 pm
I work in downtown Chicago too! I have about five “regular” homeless guys that I see nearly everyday on my way to and from the Red Line. I’ve always felt bad because I almost never carry cash on me. When I go shopping next, I’ll see about putting together a few bags for my dudes in lieu of cash.
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