Blessing Bags…
April 2, 2015 | 
Author Welcome to my blog and today’s post which is part of the annual A-to-Z Blogging Challenge. For more information on the challenge and its creator visit:
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com
My theme this year is: An Intimate Look at the Homeless and Mental Health Epidemic in America, which is the subtitle of my next book, The Stranger In My Recliner.
Today’s Letter is:
My husband is a disabled veteran so we spend some time at the VA Hospital in Philadelphia. At any time of day or night homeless people, young, elderly, children and veterans can be seen walking in the middle of the roads that surround the hospital.
It is honestly frightening for me to catch a red light in that area. I am not trying to be mean or politically incorrect but the facts are some of them suffer from mental illness and are not taking their medication, some are addicted, some are desperate and almost all of them feel complete hopelessness which is heartbreaking.
My husband has no problem giving them money. I prefer handing out blessing bags. Sometimes those bags just hold a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a bottle of water and at other times they hold more.
This is a simple thing we can all do to make another human being, someone who is down about as far as one can go feel a ray of hope if only for a few minutes.
If you frequently travel in an area like this you could keep several bags in your car. If you plan to go into an area for the purpose of delivering bags, bring a friend and be careful.
Item suggestions for Blessing Bags:
- sandwiches
- blankets
- cookies
- sleeping bags
- energy bars
- small pillows
- snack crackers
- towels
- water
- clothes
- orange juice
- laundry detergent
- plasticware
- tote bags
- napkins
- note pads/pens
- dry shampoo
- books
- wipes
- dog food/treats (many of them have pets)
- tooth brushes/paste
- sweaters/coats
- hand sanitizer
- advil/tylenol
- brushes/combs
- prepaid phones/cards
Can you think of any other items that would be useful?
Doreen
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Doreen,
Our family is planning on distributing about 100 blessings bags to people in need on 1/30/16 in the Phila area. If we don’t give out all our bags or if we feel unsafe distributing the bags is there a local shelter/agency that will distribute
the bags in Phila or surrounding counties. Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated. Some of our family lives in bucks co so, the area behind Lower bucks hsp is a viable choice.Where is it specifically? I’m in Delaware county. Are you aware of any places near there?
Thanks for your list; we’re using it as our guide
You are SO awesome! The area behind Lower Bucks Hospital is a great idea. The people back there are mostly families, and are very appreciative.
Fair Acres is another great place, so many elderly there have no family that visits and very little income, if any.
There are several VFW’s in Delaware County that collect stuff for our homeless veterans currently being housed at Coatesville VA facility. These are two I have worked with:
VFW 1805 MacDade Blvd Folsom, PA 19033-1213 (610) 348-4960
VFW Post 3460 11 Hilltop Rd Media, PA 19063-4727 (610) 566-9980
Doreen:
A group of us are set out to deliver blessing bags on November 21st, can you suggest other areas to deliver the bags to. We will have about 75 bags to deliver.
Thank you in advance.
Hi Tara, Where are you located? If in the Philadelphia area definitely all along 26th Street up to and beyond the VA hospital. In Bucks County the area behind Lower Bucks Hospital, there is an entire camp there. The people are very receptive to kindness. Please let me know how it goes.
In winter I think the most important items are warm hats and scarves, along with a copy The Homeless Coalition list of locations for help. I think a bus ticket or two would be a good addition as well so they get to those locations if they’re not close.
Our winters are so cold here in Philadelphia. We hand out coats, blankets, hats, gloves and scarves.
I love this Doreen and certainly will pass this on. I don’t know whether you have heard of a group called 1000 Voices for Compassion or #1000voices. They launched on February 20, 2015 for the International Day of Social Justice. It was a fabulous experience and I read so many fabulous stories of people being helped though adversity but also there was a contingent of people who are still hurting and not being reached.
I had a friend send me postcards from places she’d been when I was going through a hard time and that really cheered me up and I have recently been sending letters with all sorts inside every day to my sister-in-law with breast cancer. She’s loved it and after her daughter saw the board with the all pinned up, one arrived from her as well. Doing it daily via snail mail took a bit more than I thought and I ended up getting a pile of envelopes ready to go. It’s slowed down a bit now as our daughter was ill but her journey continues so I have to keep it going. It really has helped make a difference getting something in the mail each day.
xx Rowena
I have heard of #1000voices but need to investigate more. That is a great idea, what you are doing for your sister-in-law!
What a kind and loving idea. I agree, it is often more practical than what the money is used for.
~Rhonda, a fellow LiveWire
Thank you!
Something people don’t always think about are feminine products, and diapers. Maybe a water bottle that they could reuse.
Play off the Page
Great suggestions Mary!
Yay, I finally made it! I just realized you’re about an hour away from me (I think). I love what you’re doing for the A-Z Challenge this month and will definitely follow you through my 2nd blog, My Miracle Life. It’s http://lifepostbrainhemorrhage.wordpress.com if you want to pass by.
I’ll definitely be coming back. Hugs.
That is awesome Eve! Now I need to see where you are:) I am in Delaware County. I will check out that other blog.
I love that you do this! And I’m sure many of the recipients appreciate the thought and effort you put into them, more than the few dollars they could get. Really beautiful.
Thank you!
This is an awesome idea, Doreen! Your A to Z challenge is fantastic!
Thank you Lois. Travel safe!
Doreen, this is an extraordinary idea. You’re a genius! I look forward to being informed by you during this challenge.
Thank you and you are off to a great start.
What a wonderful idea! I’ve often thought about doing this and haven’t followed thru. Thanks for inspiring me to get it done!
Thank you Karyn. You should do it!
Oh I love this idea, Doreen. I’m going to have to think of something that would be useful in India. Thank you for the inspiration, my friend!
Homelessness is a big problem in India isn’t it?
Thank you for visiting my blog yesterday. 🙂 This is a great idea. I completely concur with you being afraid.
It is much safer to do this in a group.
What a wonderful idea. My mom always collects toiletries from us…her church has a “shower ministry”. And she runs a book cart…she has paperbacks in English and Spanish and has her group of homeless people she meets with each week.
That is awesome Kim.You must have inhereted her kindness gene:)
What a wonderful idea. I would love to start doing something like that around here. Thank you Doreen you have inspired me.
You should do it. It feels great!
What a wonderful idea. I need to make some of these up and put them in the car. Thanks for a great B idea. Cheers, Denise
Thank you Denise!
Talk about walking the talk–that is you in spades. What a lovely term for it, too.
Thank you Carol. I believe a little girl came up with the name. I love it!
Blessing bags are such a fabulous idea. I love it.
2015 A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Matthew MacNish from The QQQE
Thank you Matthew. It’s a little thing that can mean so much.
Add this to the already long list of reasons why I admire and love you, Doreen. A blessing bag. The very idea of it and the “doing” of it are indeed a blessing. How wonderful of you to do this.
A nice idea Doreen, which shows your generous and caring nature.
That’s a great list. I’d like to add “when you declutter your home, keep everything a homeless could need. Prepare these bags whilst you’re decluttering”. Also: if you want to get rid of your stuff immediately, bring it to an organization for homeless. Another alternative are idealistic second-hand stores who donate their income for a good cause.
I’m a big second-hand fan and shop almost only second-hand. I normally don’t throw things away; I’d always sell or donate. It’s driving me crazy how much food and things are trashed on a daily basis.
A2Z challenge. http://www.whenthecatisaway.com Participant number 1449.
I am just starting to discover second hand, I sure have missed a lot:)
What a wonderful idea. Money is useful, of course, but who knows what it will be spent on. A blessing bag full of useful items is just that, a ‘blessing’.
I agree.