Care Packages for the Homeless

How different are we from each other? Flesh and bones; cells and neurons; sinners who are terminal. We are all basically the same. A homeless man with a drug problem is not much different than a five year-old girl with a loving family. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

Jesus came to this earth to reconnect people to our common reality: We are all children of God. Jesus spent time with prostitutes and sinners. And our role while on earth is to love and help people, and to stay away from worldly values (James 1:27). When people help people, they reflect the image of God.

The homeless men who met with our Adventure Days co-op gave us insights as to their realities and how we can help them. Here are a few.

1. It takes a lot of work to collect 200 cans to make $20. When someone gives them $20, it makes their day.

2. Probably 9 out of 10 homeless people are addicted to drugs. If someone gave a homeless person $20, they might in fact use it for drugs. Or they might use it to buy a warm meal.

3. Trading things for drugs is more widespread than cash transactions. Bartering is currency just as much as cash.

4.  Trashy camps are many times littered with what people with houses have dumped there. How does a homeless person get a couch? It was likely dumped there, and they are blamed for the junk.

5. Homeless people can’t trust other homeless people on the streets. A person can be a friend one minute, and can be stealing from them the next.

6. Drug rehab programs many times put homeless people right back into the streets after they complete the program. Many homeless people don’t have families who will take them back in, so the cycle of homeless and addiction easily continues.

7. Homeless people do appreciate care packages. Especially if they have hand sanitizer for fires, wipes, socks and wide candles (to help them stay warm at night).

8. Even if you don’t have anything to give a homeless person, do acknowledge their presence, greet them, smile, and look at them in the eyes. This means a lot to them. It is hurtful when people cross the street, for example, to avoid contact with them. It is not hurtful if you don’t have anything to give them, just treat them with dignity and respect.