Do you feel like you sometimes get caught up in the minutia of everyday life and the important elements of life take a backseat? You may be busy with after-school activities for the kids, deadlines at work or family responsibilities, but do acts of service for others fall off your massive to-do list? What can you do to help your community with just a few minutes of your time and a few dollars given from your abundance? Here are just a few suggestions.
Find the Needy
How do you find a worthy cause or group to support?
- Research on the Internet. With just a touch of a key, you can locate your community and access the many needs of those around you. This helpful resource connects people to homeless and housing nonprofits.
- Ask a neighborhood church or your children’s school for recommendations of legitimate local organizations that are reaching out to those who are lacking, whether it’s for food, shelter, clothing or money.
- Ask your friends in real life or on social media. Most people are more than eager to help, so pick their brains to help you identify those who could use your help.
Discover the Needs
If you’re interested in working with a nonprofit organization, such as a ministry to the homeless, ask for ways to fill specific needs. Are they lacking in volunteers or need more along the lines of financial gifts?
Ask for details about the types of products they can use. Include necessities like Kleenex, shampoo, lotion, q-tips, disposable razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste and mouthwash. The dollar store is a perfect place to purchase travel sizes of these items. Local businesses also might be willing to provide some of these items, and it never hurts to ask!
In the winter, items like hats, gloves and socks are in great demand, and these also can be purchased at the local dollar store. Remember that the creature comforts we take for granted are often beyond the reach of the homeless population.
Meet the Needs
Put together care packages to keep in your car. Our family likes to keep paper bags (or plastic grocery bags) with non-perishable foods, such as canned fruit and soup (with pull tops), crackers, dried fruit snacks and bottled or disposable fruit drinks. When we pass someone standing on the corner with a sign, we give them one of our goodie bags.
Don’t have time to put these together yourself? How about a gift card or coupons to a local fast food restaurant?
Add a personal touch with a handmade card and a word of encouragement. We can only imagine how long it has been since a homeless man or woman has received something of a personal nature like a card or even an encouraging verse of scripture.
Take precautions with people you don’t know personally, and always be aware of your surroundings, regardless of who you are helping. Even if you never see the rewards of your hard work, more than likely your generosity will encourage both you and the recipient!