Friday, July 3, 2009

What's this all about anyway?

I had a couple of different readings and experiences inspire me with this idea that I think would be easy and cheap enough for people to implement. I hate driving by people who hold the signs saying they are hungry and homeless but I don't like the idea of giving them money for different reasons. I want to help them but aside from giving them money, I never had much of anything that I could whip out at a moment's notice for them. I read in a devotional about a woman whose daughter suggested making a lunch for the homeless man they passed every day. Great idea but since my schedule/route varies, I don't always see the folks who need it every day. Then I was inspired to pack a bag of ready-to-eat, non-perishable food that I could LEAVE in the car for whenever I came upon someone in need.


So why is there so much (or so little, depending on how you look at it...)?

The bags are designed to provide enough for one person for one day. Often homeless people are very transient and do not have resources to store or transport large amounts. Likewise, some homeless are unable, unwilling, or uninformed about how to access social resources that are available to them. The foods in the bags are chosen to provide balanced nutrition over the course of the day and includes fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, and proteins. The bag as a whole should provide a little over 2000 calories/day. It is also chosen to be tasty, compact, economical, and readily accessible for purchase. The ultimate goal is to provide meals which would be more appetizing, healthier, and a better value for the money than the same money spent at a fast food establishment.
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So how does it work?
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Just keep a bag or two in your car and when you happen upon one of our friends in need, offer the bag with a smile. Please do not endanger the health or safety of yourself or your children in your attempts to help. If you do not feel comfortable distributing the bags, there are other ways to help, too!
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1. Donate items listed in the following posts. Each of the posts for "Breakfast," "Lunch," "Dinner," and "Miscellaneous Non-Food Items" details what is in ONE bag. We will be assembling our first set of 24 bags during one of our upcoming monthly meetings. Please feel free to commit to donate items (Please no more than what is needed for 24 bags, at this point) by clicking on the "comments" at the bottom of each meal. Check to make sure no one else has already provided the quota of that item. Leave your name and the letter designator (A, B, C, etc.) of what you will be donating and the quantity you are promising. If you are adding on to an incomplete quota of a designated item, be a dear and note the TOTAL (i.e. count what you AND anyone else have promised of that item) in parenthesis in your comment. Likewise, if you will be completing the quota for an item, please note "QUOTA COMPLETE" in parentheses so others can easily see what has already been provided. Bring promised items to the monthly meeting so we can put the bags together there.
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2. The MOMS Club will purchase items to fill needs (based on what people have NOT committed to bring) prior to the assembly date. If you would prefer to donate money, talk to Annette or Tiffany. A little can go a LONG way!
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3. Even if you can not donate money or items, you can STILL help! We need people to help put the bags together, so come to the monthly meeting and get packing! :-D
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Want to do more? Pass the idea along to friends, family, church members, and co-workers.

How Can I Help?

1. Donate money to purchase items.
2. Donate items.
3. Donate time to pack the bags.
4. Volunteer to carry/distribute the bags.

Breakfast

A. One (1) small box of shelf-stable whole milk and One (1) individual box of cereal OR Two (2) yogurt and granola breakfast bars.
B. One (1) fruit cup any variety.
C. One (1) LARGE 100% juice box.
Example Breakfast Meal
(Actual brands/flavors may vary)
Shelf-stable milk is found in the grocery aisle with dry milk/ canned condensed milk, or sometimes near the shelf-stable coffee creamers. The small size usually comes in a three-pack and is roughly the size of a juice box.

Lunch

Please make sure all canned items have a POP-TOP so that the recipient does not need a can opener.
Example Lunch Meal
(Actual brands/flavors may vary.)

A. One (1) can of chili.
B. Two (2) packages of the spreadable cheese and cracker packs. (may also use the packs that have breadsticks or pretzels.)
C. One (1) breakfast bar any flavor. (Granola bars or Nutrigrain bars.)
D. One (1) 12 ounce bottle of water.

Dinner

Please make sure all canned items have POP-TOP's so the recipient does not need a can-opener.
Example Dinner Meal
(Actual brands/flavors may vary.)

A. One (1) small can of vegetables and One (1) can of soup OR One (1) LARGE bowl of Vegetable soup.
B. One (1) small can of meat, chicken, or fish. (Vienna Sausage, tuna fish, or canned chicken.)
C. One (1) fruit cup any variety.
D. One (1) individually wrapped cookie serving. (Fig Newtons or bagged cookies.)
E. One (1) 12 ounce bottle of water.

Miscellaneous Non-Food Items

In each bag, there are a number of non-food items intended to emphasize the dignity of the recipient.
A. Six (6) individually wrapped hand-sanitizing wipes.
B. One set of plasticwear - one each: spoon, fork, & knife.
C. Six (6) paper napkins.
D. One zip-closure plastic baggie to hold plasticware and napkins.
E. One "menu" - large label with list of bag contents broken down by meal.
F. One individually wrapped new toothbrush. (A recent addition.)
G. One travel size toothpaste. (Also recently added.)
H. One travel size dental floss. (Another late-comer.)
I. The handle-top paper bag (Recycled gift or Starbuck's bags work great!) for ease of transport both for recipient and carrier.
J. One handle-top plastic grocery bag (a recent suggestion to prevent bag contents from spilling if bag turns over in car.)