Care Packages for the Homeless

This year, we wanted to teach our children a lesson on giving and caring for others. Lately, they have been in the "I want" mindset, and it's getting old fast. They needed to realize there are people more worse off than them who would love to have the things they daily take for granted, such as food, warmth, and hygiene. We got in the car and drove around the city. I pointed out to them every homeless person I saw. I think after a while, they started to realize what I was talking about.

I took them to the store and had them pick out convenient foods that didn't require cooking or heating. We included coffee cakes for them to eat as a treat, and a meat and cheese gift box for a nice "meal". Along with food, we included items we thought they could use and need, like hand warmers, a first aid kit, tissues, toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo and soap, a razor and shaving cream, and utensils to eat their food. As we were checking out, the kids were smiling, and I know they were feeling good about what they were doing.

Later that night, we put the care packages together and placed them in gift bags. Everyone got in the car, and we went back to all those homeless people I had earlier pointed out. For safety reasons, my husband is the one who actually passed out the packages, but the kids watched and saw how happy those people were to receive their thoughtful gift.

One place we stopped was under a bridge where a couple was lying on the ground sharing a sleeping bag, trying to stay warm. My husband said they didn't look any older than us. It made me think; that could've been us. What if when we moved here a few years ago, we weren't able to find jobs right away? What if we couldn't find a landlord to accept a couple with no credit history? What if we didn't have my dad to stay with while we were searching for a home? Things would've been completely different, and that could have been us lying on the ground, cold, and trying to keep each other warm. I thank God everyday for providing us with the things we need to keep us from being in that position. We might not have a lot, but we have a lot more than some, and for that, I am thankful.

After we delivered the care packages, I asked the kids how they felt after doing that. My 5-year-old son didn't really know what to say. He's autistic, so I'm not entirely sure he knew what was going on, but I think he knows he was helping someone, and I'm sure he felt good about it, whether he could verbally tell us that or not. My nine-year-old daughter said it made her sad. I asked her why, and she said because it was hard to see people live like that out in the cold with nothing but a sleeping bag. She wanted to do more. She wanted to go home and go through her belongings and give them things she didn't need. I think we successfully got rid of the "I want" mindset! It was wonderful to see my kids do something so wonderful for others. We are definitely making this a yearly thing. I encourage all my readers to do the same!

God bless.

Amanda T.