Many Americans will be getting together with family this holiday season. Some rely on the holidays as that one time of year to see family who are far away- important people in our lives that we wait 12 months to hug and be near. And if there’s one thing these past two+ years have shown us, nothing is more important than family. This is something on which we can all agree.
However, there are plenty of others that have a very different reality. For many, the word “homeless” conjures images of a broken man, bent over, strung out, looking twice his age, unable to walk a straight line. The reality is that many of those people that were moved and placed during the last couple of years, only to be moved and placed again amid protests from residents groups, are families. People with children. Who cares why they’re there? They’re there. And they don't want to be.
This holiday season, perhaps we can put that focus on giving. Nothing radical. Nothing that would endanger [your] physical health or promote the spread of anything other than warm feelings.
One of the things homeless people need above anything else are socks. Get on Amazon or run over to a dollar store. Buy up a couple packages of a dozen pairs of warm socks and a few boxes of cereal bars. Try to get the bars with little to no sugar and no nuts. Or maybe instead of the bars get some bread and jam or cheese. Get little bottles of hand sanitizer, too, if you can find them. Then make bags containing a pair of socks, a sandwich or cereal bar, and hand sanitizer. Clear plastic baggies are better so the contents can be seen.
On Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day- or any day- walk a few blocks, giving out the bags to those in need. You’ll be saving lives. Keep a few of those bags on you all the time- give them out when you see someone who could use one.
It won’t cost you much. The real investment is your time. But- we promise- the payback will be huge.