5 Ways you can still volunteer over the holidays to help neighbors experiencing homelessness during a pandemic
Did you know over 60% of Americans make a charitable gift in December? Over 10% of that occurs during the last week of the year, accounting for a third of a charity’s annual budget. The holidays are around the corner and thousands look forward to volunteering by serving hot turkey, mashed potatoes, and all the fixings to the less fortunate on Thanksgiving.
This writer personally looks forward to putting on a Santa suit, pairing up with an elf, and delivering holiday cheer on Christmas Eve.
Traditional volunteering opportunities will be limited this year as we practice social distancing. However, the need has never been greater.
Here are 5 ways you can still volunteer to help those experiencing homelessness during a pandemic.
1) Make Hygiene Kits
Hygiene kits can satisfy the basic needs of people experiencing homelessness. They are also an essential tool for outreach workers to build rapport and assist that person on their journey to becoming housed.
A complete hygiene kit will include travel sized:
Bottled shampoo
Bottled body wash
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Hand sanitizer
Disposable razors
The hygiene kits can be packaged in a zip lock bag. The cleanliness they provide are essential for basic dignity and community integration. It’s important to be mindful that these will often be received by people who are unsheltered or living in bridge housing. Travel sized items allow outreach workers to travel lighter and reach more people in need. Bottled body wash is preferred over bars of soap as these folks do not have their own shower facilities. The plastic bottles are more convenient than a paper box or wrapper to carry their soap after usage.
2) Outreach Kits
Outreach workers are the counselors and medical professionals meeting unsheltered people experiencing chronic homelessness. These angels prioritize the Angelenos commonly associated with living in encampments and under the freeway overpasses. The items in the kits are essential to providing essential needs and rapport building. Hygiene kit items can also make great outreach kits.
A complete Outreach Kit will include:
Bottled water
Body lotion
Granola bars
Masks for protection from Coronavirus
New, unused pair of socks
New, unused pair of underwear
Lip balm
Hand sanitizer
Deodorant stick
Nearly one-third of people experiencing homelessness identify as women. Not every outreach kit needs feminine hygiene products, but maxi-pads and tampons are essential for a third of the kit recipients. Last, remember we live in L.A. Sunblock isn’t always needed but is very beneficial.
3) Make Welcome Home Baskets
Did you know 207 Angelenos exit homelessness every day? Like every renter, we’re thrilled to have enough for first month’s rent, the security deposit, and to finally have a place of our own. However, a home is more than four walls and a roof. The small items like plates, sheets, and cleaning supplies that make a house a home can really add up. Welcome Home Baskets are like the first hug after receiving keys to the first home.
A complete Welcome Home Basket will include:
Laundry basket
Laundry soap
One set of bath towels and dish towels
One set of twin bed sheets
One set of plates, forks, knives, spoons
One set of cookware
Spray bottle for all-purpose cleaning
Cleaning wipes
Dusting rag
Extension cord or surge protector
Can opener
4) Cards and Brown Bag Lunches
Pair a turkey sandwich, fruit, bottled water, and bag of chips with a handmade greeting card. Make these with love. The path from unsheltered to housing often includes appointments with counselors, medical professionals, landlords, and often jobs. Yes, someone can have a job, but may yet to have a home. Brown bag lunches provide nourishment and comfort. A drawing on the bag or handmade card inside is like a high-five from a community that’s rooting for you.
Before committing to this activity, coordinate with your local homeless service agency to learn what they need and how it can fit in their schedule. This will ensure perishable food is still edible and you’ll have saved the non-profit valuable food costs.
5) Make Centerpieces for the dining table
A home is more than four walls and a roof. A dining area is more than a table and chairs. We are all looking forward to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas meals together. A table centerpiece made with love can really dress up the dining area and let the recipients know the community cares. Google D.I.Y. centerpieces for inspiration. A base can be an egg carton, plastic wine glass, or glass vase. Add flower or fruit and you’ll have something you’re surely proud of.
Contact your favorite homeless services agency and ask how many they can utilize. It’s important to be mindful of an organization’s storage capacity and infrastructure to distribute items. Feel free to contact this writer for recommendations cchan@unionstationhs.org.
If you’re looking for more ideas that serve a group with different needs, I also highly recommend:
· Write cards to seniors
· Collect gift cards from minority owned mom and pop businesses.
· Get C.P.R. certified
· Make care packages for nurses and front line essential workers.
· Order lunch for your local fire station
I promised you 5 ideas, but gave you 10. Consider it, like every day, a present. Happy holidays!
Calvin Chan is a Major Gift Officer with Union Station Homeless Services.
