Community Chat

[MKR14]

Due to the homeless in our area that need help -but are not being found to help- the community started a helpful way to keep them warm. In our East Side Park entrance there are used coats, hats, and gloves hooked on the entrance with a sign that says FREE. That way if the homeless are proud people they can be warmer during this freezing weather. 

This made me cry when I saw what our city has done. I donate to anyone that I can help if I find out they need food etc. We have several places to go for free warm meal and a Food Pantry that helps those needing it.

We are so busy in our own lives sometimes it takes something like the display of used coats hanging up and the Free Sign to bring us to tears.

If I ever won the Lottery the very first thing on my list is a beautiful hotel in my hometown for the homeless. Then building a large food pantry with an unlimited stock of food for those who need it.

I am sure you all help in your own way and my message is to remind us how fortunate we all are.

[dex]

A woman in Canada built a small stand in her yard.She had food,clothing and small necessities.She made a sign”take what you need.Leave what you can”I a.ways donate to her stand when I visit the area.

[deepwaterdotter]

And you could employ some of the homeless folks to work in the hotel and food pantry.

[Carmie]

There is a lady in my area who knits scarves, hats and mittens.  She hangs them on trees in the park where the homeless hang out.  They are free for the taking.

Have  you every heard of blessing boxes?  Home owners have a small stand in their yard where they place canned good and non perishables.  Anyone can take what they need.  Many times it is not the homeless, but people who ran out of money before the month ended who use these items.

If I won the lottery, i’d set up a shelter for women.  Our area has shelters for women with children and men.  The shelters for single women are scarce.  My DH buys food for women who hang around outside where he works part time. They do not beg, they just have no where to go.  He has been moved by the fact that they share what they get among themselves and they are so very grateful.

[CelticCrafter]

I have a family member that is involved with an organization that helps the homeless, hungry, those in shelters and those that just need a little bit of help.

They will take practically anything someone is willing to donate.

My husband is a couponer and sometimes with double coupons, loyalty cards and sales there are a lot of personal care items that are almost free.

He will put it in a box and when it's full, drop it off to her.

Did it recently and another family member felt it was okay to go through it and take what they wanted because it was being given away anyway.  Really?  This person has more money than they know what to do with.

Something that was being done with a good heart turned into a you know what show.

[NicksmomESQ]

  Hunger & homelessness have always driven me crazy!! I’m very involved in my local food bank.I write them generous checks several times a year.At my suggestion a couple of years ago they set aside a room for clothing donations.

  When people come to the facility for food they also have the option of picking up clothing for their families.It’s become very successful. Lots of times people drop of clothing their kids have outgrown as they select new items.

  Nothing is more satisfying than to see someone leave with food & clothing. Knowing that they can provide for their families because of the generosity of the community is a wonderful feeling.

  Several of the people we’ve helped have been able to move on & provide for themselves & their families. They’re now paying it forward with their time & money.

[cherry]

Our church ,along with others in my town ,fosters the homeless once a year. They all take it in turn, and so the guys don't have to stay in a shelter,  very often

They are guys trying to get enough together ,to rent a place of their own. They all have jobs ,and  come to the churches clean and showered. We feed them, and offer them new items like socks and  pillows   etc, and they are  driven to another church ,in the morning, that gives them breakfast, and gets them to work

[dex]

@NicksmomESQ That is a really beautiful story.I love that some of those who were helped eventually came back to give when they were able.It is really nice to think that some people were able to get beyond the hardships and turn their lives around to prosper.

[OKPrincess]

When my mom died we donated her many many clothes to the clothes closet at her large church located downtown . There are many homeless or less fortunate people who go to the clothes closet to get clothing. The church has a food pantry and also a benevolent committee to help with bills. If we all do a small part in our own communities what a wonderful world we would have. I'm just as passionate about needy people as I am about abused and neglected animals.

[SeaMaiden]

Helping the homeless is one thing... giving them handouts with no incentives to better themselves and live on the streets forever is another.

 Here in Seattle we have a new name for Seattle..." FREE ATLE"...  The city has opened it's doors for homeless people to come here and get free everything.... food.. clothes.... even building them boxes to live in.   No incentive for these people to get out of homelessness... just live off of the tax payer who is footing the bill.  More and more homeless camps are cropping up all over the city... dirty places needles everywhere...  close to homes and schools....they do not clean up after themselves at all.

 I am all for helping the homeless get back on their feet and become productive people in society.  But in FREE ATLE, this  so called  handout help is only exasperating the problem.