Everyone deserves to feel loved and cared for, especially during the festive season. Here are some ways to help the homeless this Christmas!
One of life's simple pleasures is the feeling of our feet sliding into a pair of thick, cosy socks as the nights grow colder, or holding a flask of warm tea to defrost our fingers in the bitter cold. We may find we take such pleasures for granted, and why wouldn't we as the majority of us have never been without such simplicities. However, to some people, these feelings seem like unreachable luxuries.
The chances are, there is a least one homeless person in your local town or city. In 2021,over 28,000 people were recorded homeless in the UK. Whilst we may see these numbers and feel helpless, don't let that discourage you from how much we can do for those struggling within our community. Over the years, I've sat with countless homeless people on the streets, listened to their story, prayed with them and provided them a warm drink or a friendly smile. Each person has their own story to share, and it's not for us to judge their situation or what caused them to be there, but rather to meet them where they're at and recognise that this is a human being in need, and if there's ever a human in need, we should do our best to help them! Even those who don't want to help themselves (and I've met plenty of them) everyone can benefit from a touch of kindness in their life, and these are some ways you can do this during the festive season (or anytime!)
Christmas Packages
I'll never forget the time I handed a Christmas package to a lady on the streets. I popped into the local café to grab her a hot drink and by the time I came back, she had found the hairbrush and was using both hands to comb through her hair, keeping her eyes closed with a smile on her face. When I approached with the coffee she told me she couldn't remember the last time she had combed her hair, and how much she missed
feeling well groomed. It was an emotional encounter that left us both smiling.
Packages don't have to contain anything fancy or expensive, you can put in as little or as much as you like. But consider that those sleeping on the streets may not have anywhere to store your gifts, so where possible, include a gift bag (or better yet, a rucksack from the charity shop!)
Men's Christmas bag
Most items were purchased from Home Bargains. Their thermal gloves and socks are super warm and an essential for the winter!
Adding a £5 café voucher is a great alternative to money, and there's no better way to give it than inside a greeting card :)
Thermal socks
Gloves
Snood
Travel Mug with teas, coffees and chocolates
Comb
Lynx deodorant spray and body wash
Tissues and hand wipes
Nail clipper
Torch
Christmas card with a personal message
Greggs £5 voucher
Women's Christmas bag
A mug full of teas and treats is a nice surprise for when they open their mug. I buy selection boxes and divide these between the bags.
Women often say they miss being able to groom themselves, which is why it's a good idea to add the grooming essentials.
Scarf
Thermal Socks
Gloves
Lynx spray and body wash
Travel mug with tea's, coffee's and chocolates
Tissues and wipes
Hair hand and bobbles
Hairbrush
Mirror
Tweezers and nail file
Torch
Lip Balm
Card and Greggs voucher
The stores are full of useful items that will be well-received and appreciated, no matter how much you choose to include. Partnering up with a friend or family member is a good way to ease expenses and feel more confident when approaching those on the street, if this is something you're anxious about. There's no pressure to have a conversation with the person who receives your bag, especially if they are showing signs of wanting to be left alone. Simply dropping the bag by their side and wishing them a Merry Christmas is enough, however, you'll find that most people are friendly and welcome a conversation, so just go with the flow and do whatever comes natural for you! We never know how much of an impact a simple touch of kindness can have on somebody, so step out in love and be the reason someone smiles this Christmas!
Watch me pack my Homeless Christmas packages on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@atouchofkindness.22/video/7178999634084367621?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7151824548823926278