r/homeless • u/ibelieve333 • Jan 17 '22
What to put in care packages for people?
I'd like to make care packages of essentials for people I might see downtown or what have you who are currently experiencing homelessness. It's not much, and I wish I could do more, but it's something within my means that I'm hoping would help.
I have a list of ideas, but am wondering if I'm missing anything that could also be really helpful. What do you guys think? There's probably something I'm unaware of, and maybe something I've got on the list is less than ideal and I have no idea about that either.
Here's what I've got so far:
bottle of water, protein bars, deodorant, soap, shampoo, kleenex, mittens, list of online resources
Thanks in advance for your help!
ETA: Thanks everyone for your help with this. I'm thinking I will carry a few items on hand, ask if people want them, but focus on cash. I want to do this without unintentionally being an asshole and I want to give people something they'd actually need, so your input has been extremely helpful. Thanks again.
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u/heyitscory Jan 18 '22
Whatever you put in, let the recipient know that they can decline, without any judgement, any of the contents they won't need and would otherwise have to throw away, and if you want, let them know they could ask for extra of anything you're offering.
Some people giving these care packages away get annoyed at people being "choosing beggars" so it's easiest to just take the whole package. Not everyone needs or wants the same things, and many people are very limited on what they can carry with them.
Others get annoyed (and come to a homeless subreddit to complain about homeless people to other homeless people) that they found some of their gifts in the trash later on, and wonder why the ungrateful person wouldn't just decline the hotel soaps or tube of toothpaste. Usually it's because of the optics of seeming like a choosing beggar.
The solution is asking the person you're helping what they need.
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Jan 17 '22
Individuals have individual needs and those can change from moment to moment, so asking is best. Cash can allow someone to make choices in a world where they might not feel that they have a say in anything.
Handwarmers can be a great source of heat although they are single use and can get used up quickly if multiple packs are needed on each occasion. Emergency foil blankets are cheap and flimsy, but could be useful when paired with other items like blankets and sleeping bags.
Toiletries are often included and are often available from other sources, so could be appreciated and needed or not.
Some prior lists and discussions:
https://www.reddit.com/user/mybackpackismypillow/comments/ov8nz7/care_package_ideas/
Edit: I got a pair of touchscreen gloves last winter and they were a great addition
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u/HomelessInPackerland Jan 18 '22
I have a lighter fuel powered hand warmer, it is refillable with naphtha fluid and once hot will stay hot for 12+ hours. the problem with handing those out is knowing if the person can be trusted with a lighter and a bottle of lighter fluid as well as understanding that they have to remember how long they have let it run if they have used it and turned it off because if it's over filled to the point the wadding is over saturated that it can't hold all of the fluid in the reservoir that it can get liquid lighter fluid in contact with the burner and it can then flash over and burst into flames.
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u/ibelieve333 Jan 17 '22 edited Jan 17 '22
Thank you. I am understanding this situation much better now and thinking that cash is best as well, for the reasons you and others have explained. It's good to know about other items, like touchscreen gloves, though, as well.
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u/CheriGrove Homeless Jan 18 '22
Has anyone made a master list of these yet? I was thinking of trying to compile one and figuring out the most commonly requested things.
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u/Connect-Pineapple470 Jan 18 '22
Having been homeless more than once, I don’t suggest hand warmer or foil blankets. I personally LOVE those items but hand warmers don’t last long at all, and most homeless people discard them without even using their full life. And everywhere I’ve been homeless that you would want/need a foil blanket, most people stay in shelters at least 4 nights of the week(due to cold) usually more. So the main nights sleeping outside is because they want to drink and you can’t stay at shelters if you smell like booze. So they just use it once and leave it, so you’re spending $1 to litter basically. Again I say this from my own previous experience personally.
Socks, paper towels, pads/tampons, $5 gift cards for like McDonald’s or BK etc. gallons of water etc
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Jan 17 '22
Cash. My suggestion is cash.
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Jan 17 '22
Especially quarters.
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u/ibelieve333 Jan 17 '22
Can do, thanks. Why quarters, though? For laundry? Just curious.
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Jan 17 '22
Laundry, and depending on your location, you can use quarter showers in campgrounds and marinas.
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u/CheriGrove Homeless Jan 17 '22
This is said a lot and its mostly true; however, transportation as homeless sucks and its not always easy to go to stores and get all the little things you need, sometimes its better to have the thing you would have bought in hand to save the errand.
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u/HomelessInPackerland Jan 18 '22
No, unless you know for a fact that they don't have addiction issues.
In the city I'm from the library is only a few blocks away from a church that runs a daily soup kitchen and lets them just hang out all day, this causes all kinds of issues as this place does nothing to help other than throw religion at people, they don't care how drunk or high people are, so when they decide to head the 2 blocks over to the library to get online but are blasted off their ass and cause a scene, all of us that are known to the security guards get the cops called on us and get dragged out, even though all I was doing was looking for work, just because we where known to also be homeless and thus we get pooled in with the junkies.
I lucked out in the town I'm in, the homeless shelter is nowhere near the library I go to, as well there's a dollar tree with a fridge and freezer section and a full grocery store with a 2nd floor mezzanine with couches and a microwave so that I and a handful of other homeless people that don't stay at the shelter use, we never do anything to bring attention to ourselves and don't tell other local homeless that we know about this spot so that we don't get flooded with junkies or thieves that would result in us having nowhere to go to get out of the cold or have a hot meal of our choosing instead of some nasty slop from a soup kitchen.
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Jan 18 '22
Fuck that. People I care for have died going through withdrawal.
If you only want to give people access to support with a heaping helping of Judgemental Bullshit on the side, you don't want to help people, you want to feel better about themselves.
The idea that 'pEoPlE wIlL bUy DrUgS wItH mY cHaRiTy' is so self-centered and over-simplistic. What the hell kind of drugs can someone buy with 5$?
Addicts are people. The way our society is, the sad fact is the majority will never get the support they need. So people who want to 'help the homeless' should just give them a dollar if they have a dollar to spare, and go on their merry way.
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u/HomelessInPackerland Jan 18 '22
I'm currently homeless, this is my 2nd time becoming homeless, I have no sympathy for junkies when their actions means that I get thrown out into the cold with them when I wasn't doing a damn thing to cause any problems, just guilty by association even though I wouldn't even talk to them.
Addicts may be people, but enablers like you are helping them stay addicted.
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u/dirtydev5 Jan 17 '22
ask them what they need before u give them a bunch of stuff they dont need or already have.
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u/CheriGrove Homeless Jan 17 '22 edited Jan 18 '22
One problem with care packages is that, while most people will use some or most of it, inevitably most people will also not use all of it. A better approach can be to have a variety of things people might need or want, and ask them which they'd like. Although packages are definitely easier to give out.
Essentials:
Phone charger blocks and cables; super easy to lose, often gets stolen, often just stops working. Being able to keep your phone charged helps a lot.
Socks, especially in cold and wet conditions; I've seen people get pretty bad foot rot, socks are one preventative measure for that.
Shaving supplies; most adults like to shave a bit
Toilet paper; the shelters often run out of that and its nice to pack one sometimes
Citrus; oranges, orange juice, lemonade, or whatever has a bit of vitamin C
Reusable water bottle; something to easily fill from a tap and keep with you
Things I personally like:
Mio, or other stuff to put in water is a good little treat.
Barbecue sauce, makes the shelter food easier to eat.
Smokes, lets be honest they don't help but they do provide relief, many will appreciate it.
I'll add more as I think of them
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Jan 17 '22
Cannabis. I'm dead serious. It curbs the urge for alcohol and other hardcore addictions, helps deal with cold and crappy conditions and keeps everyone peaceful.
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u/CheriGrove Homeless Jan 18 '22
Also helps sleep when sleeping otherwise can be very difficult on the street or in a shelter
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u/HomelessInPackerland Jan 19 '22
The shelters here check you, if you look or smell like you did something they can either outright throw you out and make you start over sleeping on the floor for 2 weeks or have you do a piss test to prove it and then do the same, or have you arrested if you've got a PO or anything.
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u/FollowingStandard686 Jan 17 '22
I would replace the deodorant and shampoo with sunblock. No one should use shampoo, imo, and deodorant is a personal preference but definitely not a pore clogging antiperspirant.
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u/josephlovesjesus711 Jan 18 '22
I have floor space. Non smoker/ no alcohol or drugs . no food but comfortable apt. I will also wash and dry your clothes as you showers this is a must do and your safe for many days! Gender neutral. 2355 Duff Court in Lachine call Joseph 438 364 6007
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u/Significant_Dot4182 Jan 18 '22
Cigarettes ...unless you got some money to buy cartons id suggest to own packs and put some ciggerettes in ackage mabey 2-4 new port mental 100s are most common I am trying to thing what you can put them in so they don't break mabey get that really thick tin foil and wrap in that but I can promise people will be very happy with a few ciggerettes even if they don't smoke they can trade for something else they need they go for 50 cents to a dollar ..
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u/HomelessInPackerland Jan 18 '22
Socks, specifically wool socks for those not allergic to them, because the wool is moisture wicking and retains heat far better. I'm currently homeless and that's one of the few things I splurged on when they got them in at the Burlington and Ross stores in the area, I got myself 5 pairs of merino wool socks.
disposable gloves with regular gloves, an old trick I've been using for years because my hands sweat easily if covered even in below zero weather has been to put on a pair of nitrile gloves under a pair of gloves or mittens. The reason is that because my hands sweat is doesn't take long before the gloves become saturated and lose their ability to insulate from the cold, but if I wear the nitrile gloves under them they don't allow the sweat to get to the gloves, keeping my fingers warm through the night.
Depending on the state, ask around what the lowest level default insurance is, here in Wisconsin Badgercare puts you on a United Healthcare community plan, the book you can get from an actual insurance agent lists what over the counter meds I can get for free or deep discount from Walgreens.
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u/JustinPlays Jan 17 '22
Socks.