Have you made blessing bags? I've seen them on Pinterest. They are great to keep in the car for people you see asking for help/handouts on the street. Putting them together is easy, and it's a great activity for children. Kids can help you fill each bag, just like Operation Christmas Child Shoe boxes. Keep them in your car, and hand them out when you see someone holding up a sign and asking for some help. (Public Service Announcment- The paranoid mom in me wants to remind you to use common sense and not
drive up and down dark alleys at night, rolling down your windows and
such. PSA over.)
What can you put in these bags? So many things! (You can see what I had this go around in the pictures.)
I have a list below of some ideas that can be put into gallon sized bags for giving out, if you have other ideas share them in the comments section!
- A list of local food banks
- A list of local shelters
- A list of churches
- A list of nearby clinics/hospitals
- A note wishing them a blessed day
- A bible and/or tract
- Some cleaners will clean a persons clothing if they have a job interview, if you see a sign like this up- make note of the location. Add this to your bag if it's in the same area.
- Zip top bags- I like to include a couple of extra zip top bags, to store the toothbrush in, to store items that might leak, to store items someone may want to keep dry and so on. Pretty much all the toiletries, since there is food in the bag.
- When you stay at a hotel, all those bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotions, and bars of soap? Pick them up! Someone handing out samples? Now you have something to do with them.
- Shampoo
- DRY/Waterless Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Sunscreen
- Lotion
- Bug spray
- Bandaids
- Socks
- Hand Sanitizer
- Antibacterial ointment
- Wet wipes
- Safety pins
- Toothbrush
- Toothbrush holder/keeper/container
- Tooth paste
- Floss
- Chapstick, lip balm
- Deodorant
- Comb or brush
- First aid kit
- Kleenex
- Toilet paper
- Hat/Cap
- Scarves
- Gloves
- Wash clothes
- Nail clippers
- Nail file
- Pads/Tampons
- Q tips
- Floss
- Tweezers
- Hand warmers- Target has/had them. You break them and they heat up.
- Hard candy
- Gum
- Wrapped, non perishable snacks- beef jerky, crackers with cheese/peanut butter, nuts, granola bars, dried fruit, Tuna, etc.
- Plastic spoon for items like applesauce, etc.
- Peanut butter
- Throat lozenges
- Refillable water bottle
- Packets of crystallized iced coffee/tea/Crystal light. (The kind you pour into water bottles)
- Pens
- Notebook
- Poncho
- McDonald's gift card (or other place)
- Phone card
- Glow sticks- the ones you break and they light up.
- Envelope/s with first class stamp
Thank you so much for the idea! This is something my boys could help me do. I think I'll bring up the idea at my seven year old's next den meeting for cub scouts. They're always looking for new service projects they can do.
ReplyDeletePinned this wonderful idea! Found you through your post on Food on Friday and decided to check out your blog. So glad I did!
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