Help in a Helpful Way

Like most people, I struggle with how to help panhandlers.

When I lived in Kenya, my car would be surrounded by street kids begging for money. Many of these poor little ones were terribly addicted to inhalants – money wasn’t a help for them. I would carry bits of bread and other foodstuffs to hand out instead of shillingis. It broke my heart.

Here in the US, there are several places throughout Dallas where panhandlers await cars stopped at major intersections. Like those Nairobi street kids, money isn’t a help for them (no matter what their appeal sign might say). As well, I like to give my money through organizations that do know how to help.

But that doesn’t prevent my heart from breaking when I see panhandlers. Or when I have to tell them no.

So when I stumbled across the idea of making Blessing Bags, I knew I had to make them.

The idea is simple. Fill gallon plastic bags with whatever you can that would be of help to someone who is down on their luck. I dug around in our cabinets and found:

Each of our bags include soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, sunscreen, protein bars, comb, gum, floss and a washcloth.

But you could also include deodorant, coins, lip balm, a mini Bible, juice box, jerky, a self-stable sweet treat, socks, gloves, prepaid phone card, hand sanitizer, homeless resource list, trial size ibuprofen, throat lozenges, shampoo…you get the idea.

Now the bags are in the back of my car, ready to hand out when someone approaches to ask me for money.

It’s not money, and it may not be a ton of help, but it is a bit of mercy and care…a bit of I see you in a world that likes to turn a blind eye to problems.