[Engaged] Homeless Care Packages

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  • TyZa
    Member
    • May 2016
    • 126

    [Engaged] Homeless Care Packages

    Hello everyone,

    I apologize if this has been posted before but I did not see anything using search.

    Homeless Care Packages is something I have done before and want to start doing again soon. I just wanted to post the general idea here if anyone wants to do something similar. Also, please be advised of any particular laws in your area that makes feeding the homeless illegal (rolls eyes).

    Anyway, I saw the idea online and if you search "Homeless Care Packages" you can get some good lists/ideas. I would go to a dollar tree (a store where everything is $1) and buy multiple of the following items:

    Socks
    Toothbrush/Toothpaste
    Water bottle
    Mini first aid kit
    Soap
    Shampoo
    Comb/brush
    Canned meats
    Crackers/various other food
    Sunscreen
    Lotion
    Chapstick/lip balm
    Fingernail clippers
    Non-alcoholic hand sanitizer
    Candy/gum (figured it may lift their spirits)
    Pack of tissues/wipes
    Duct tape (I heard that's very useful when homeless)
    Space blanket
    Etc.

    I would buy multiple amounts of these items and pack small backpacks or easily carried bags with each of these items and more. You can also include in the package a list of contact information and locations for food banks, shelters, assistance programs, etc.

    I would keep these bags in my car and if I saw anyone who was homeless I would hand them a bag. No judgement on whether they were actually in need or not. However, every single time I gave out a bag the people were extremely grateful or shocked by what I gave them.

    You can make smaller kits with just essentials or tailor the kits for different needs. My goal was just to make at least one other human being's life at little easier (even if small) and show them that people do actually care.

    Just wanted to share this idea in case anyone hasn't heard of it before and would like to try it.

    Gassho,
    Tyler.

    SatToday
  • Geika
    Treeleaf Unsui
    • Jan 2010
    • 4981

    #2
    Wonderful, thank you!

    Gassho, gassho

    Sat today
    求道芸化 Kyūdō Geika
    I am just a priest-in-training, please do not take anything I say as a teaching.

    Comment

    • Jundo
      Treeleaf Founder and Priest
      • Apr 2006
      • 40049

      #3
      Great. Maybe we could make this one of our upcoming projects here?

      Gassho, Jundo

      SatToday
      ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

      Comment

      • TyZa
        Member
        • May 2016
        • 126

        #4
        Since I am still very new here, what is the best way to make this an upcoming project (assuming members are interested)?

        Gassho,
        Tyler.

        SatToday

        Comment

        • Jundo
          Treeleaf Founder and Priest
          • Apr 2006
          • 40049

          #5
          Originally posted by TyZa
          Since I am still very new here, what is the best way to make this an upcoming project (assuming members are interested)?

          Gassho,
          Tyler.

          SatToday
          Contact our Shugen, please, who leads our Engaged Center.

          Gassho, Jundo
          ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

          Comment

          • Myosha
            Member
            • Mar 2013
            • 2974

            #6
            Originally posted by TyZa
            Hello everyone,

            I apologize if this has been posted before but I did not see anything using search.

            Homeless Care Packages is something I have done before and want to start doing again soon. I just wanted to post the general idea here if anyone wants to do something similar. Also, please be advised of any particular laws in your area that makes feeding the homeless illegal (rolls eyes).

            Anyway, I saw the idea online and if you search "Homeless Care Packages" you can get some good lists/ideas. I would go to a dollar tree (a store where everything is $1) and buy multiple of the following items:

            Socks
            Toothbrush/Toothpaste
            Water bottle
            Mini first aid kit
            Soap
            Shampoo
            Comb/brush
            Canned meats
            Crackers/various other food
            Sunscreen
            Lotion
            Chapstick/lip balm
            Fingernail clippers
            Non-alcoholic hand sanitizer
            Candy/gum (figured it may lift their spirits)
            Pack of tissues/wipes
            Duct tape (I heard that's very useful when homeless)
            Space blanket
            Etc.

            I would buy multiple amounts of these items and pack small backpacks or easily carried bags with each of these items and more. You can also include in the package a list of contact information and locations for food banks, shelters, assistance programs, etc.

            I would keep these bags in my car and if I saw anyone who was homeless I would hand them a bag. No judgement on whether they were actually in need or not. However, every single time I gave out a bag the people were extremely grateful or shocked by what I gave them.

            You can make smaller kits with just essentials or tailor the kits for different needs. My goal was just to make at least one other human being's life at little easier (even if small) and show them that people do actually care.

            Just wanted to share this idea in case anyone hasn't heard of it before and would like to try it.

            Gassho,
            Tyler.

            SatToday
            Hello,

            Not to mention, the above would make a great emergency kit kept in any vehicle!

            Thank you for the lesson.


            Gassho
            Myosha sat today
            "Recognize suffering, remove suffering." - Shakyamuni Buddha when asked, "Uhm . . .what?"

            Comment

            • Mp

              #7
              Lovely Tyler ... a wonderful way to give back. =)

              Gassho
              Shingen

              s@today

              Comment

              • Geika
                Treeleaf Unsui
                • Jan 2010
                • 4981

                #8
                Good point, Myosha!

                Gassho, sat today
                求道芸化 Kyūdō Geika
                I am just a priest-in-training, please do not take anything I say as a teaching.

                Comment

                • TyZa
                  Member
                  • May 2016
                  • 126

                  #9
                  Myosha, you're right. I would be a good idea to keep one in your car (maybe a larger first aid kit). Thanks!

                  Gassho,
                  Tyler.

                  SatToday

                  Comment

                  • Shugen
                    Treeleaf Unsui
                    • Nov 2007
                    • 4535

                    #10
                    Originally posted by TyZa
                    Hello everyone,

                    I apologize if this has been posted before but I did not see anything using search.

                    Homeless Care Packages is something I have done before and want to start doing again soon. I just wanted to post the general idea here if anyone wants to do something similar. Also, please be advised of any particular laws in your area that makes feeding the homeless illegal (rolls eyes).

                    Anyway, I saw the idea online and if you search "Homeless Care Packages" you can get some good lists/ideas. I would go to a dollar tree (a store where everything is $1) and buy multiple of the following items:

                    Socks
                    Toothbrush/Toothpaste
                    Water bottle
                    Mini first aid kit
                    Soap
                    Shampoo
                    Comb/brush
                    Canned meats
                    Crackers/various other food
                    Sunscreen
                    Lotion
                    Chapstick/lip balm
                    Fingernail clippers
                    Non-alcoholic hand sanitizer
                    Candy/gum (figured it may lift their spirits)
                    Pack of tissues/wipes
                    Duct tape (I heard that's very useful when homeless)
                    Space blanket
                    Etc.

                    I would buy multiple amounts of these items and pack small backpacks or easily carried bags with each of these items and more. You can also include in the package a list of contact information and locations for food banks, shelters, assistance programs, etc.

                    I would keep these bags in my car and if I saw anyone who was homeless I would hand them a bag. No judgement on whether they were actually in need or not. However, every single time I gave out a bag the people were extremely grateful or shocked by what I gave them.

                    You can make smaller kits with just essentials or tailor the kits for different needs. My goal was just to make at least one other human being's life at little easier (even if small) and show them that people do actually care.

                    Just wanted to share this idea in case anyone hasn't heard of it before and would like to try it.

                    Gassho,
                    Tyler.

                    SatToday
                    What a great idea!

                    Thank you,

                    Shugen

                    #sattoday
                    Meido Shugen
                    明道 修眼

                    Comment

                    • Jundo
                      Treeleaf Founder and Priest
                      • Apr 2006
                      • 40049

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Myosha
                      Hello,

                      Not to mention, the above would make a great emergency kit kept in any vehicle!

                      Thank you for the lesson.


                      Gassho
                      Myosha sat today
                      A bit off topic, but this reminds me of a conversation I once overheard with a Japanese Roshi here in Japan, earthquake land. Someone asked, "If we are to accept all things just as they are, and all things as they come, why prepare"? He answered something like, "Accept all things as they come. Accept earthquakes. Accept your preparations. Accept having plenty of batteries".

                      Gassho, J

                      SatToday
                      ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

                      Comment

                      • KellyRok
                        Member
                        • Jul 2008
                        • 1374

                        #12
                        This is truly a wonderful idea Tyler! Thank you for offering it to us along with a great supply list. I would definitely be interested in doing something like this.

                        Gassho,
                        Kelly/Jinmei

                        Comment

                        • TyZa
                          Member
                          • May 2016
                          • 126

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Jundo
                          "Accept all things as they come. Accept earthquakes. Accept your preparations. Accept having plenty of batteries".
                          Haha, wonderful advice!

                          Gassho,
                          Tyler.

                          SatToday

                          Comment

                          • Marco
                            Member
                            • May 2016
                            • 12

                            #14
                            I love this idea Tyler!

                            My wife and I are looking for simple ways to get our kids involved in charity; I think going through this entire process together with them (creating a list, shopping, etc.) would be a great way to spend an afternoon with them.

                            Thank you for the inspiration

                            Gassho,
                            Marco

                            Comment

                            • Theophan
                              Member
                              • Nov 2014
                              • 146

                              #15
                              Tyza,
                              Thank you for this wonderful idea.
                              Gassho.

                              Theophan
                              (Sekishi)
                              Sat Today

                              Comment

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