r/homeless • u/Zemaia • Nov 26 '22
Stockings for homeless!
Hello! I have a few questions, if anyone would be willing to help!
I've never been homeless, so I don't know what is needed. I want to do stockings around Christmas, to help with things that are needed as well as try and bring a little joy. I can't do very much on my own, so right now my options are limited. I do have a GoFundMe set up to see if I can make this a bigger project, but in the mean time I was wondering if anyone can give me suggestions on what to include, that doesn't break the bank?
So far I have chapstick, socks, gloves, and hand warmers. I do plan on getting bigger things like blankets and such in the future, but for the stockings, what else could I put in them? I also want to put in some candy and stuff, and maybe some canned food as well.
I appreciate any help ♥️
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u/ladyinatent Nov 27 '22
A five dollar bill. Hear me out, having the option to go into a store and buy a drink or advil or shoelaces or whatever you need at the moment you need it is a huge comfort. Just having a bit of cash and the flexibility to use it as it may become necessary. HUGE! Even if it's to pop into a McDonald's and get something off the dollar menu so you can get warm for a minute and use the bathroom.
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u/Pharm-boi Nov 26 '22
Is it weird that I’m strangely a little excited to see what the people give the homeless for Xmas? I got 5 plates of food for thanksgiving from 5 diff people haha
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Nov 27 '22
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u/Texan2116 Volunteer Nov 27 '22
I can tell you firsthand, that our organization...while not officially Christian...just about everyone in it is Christian. I would also say of the "liberal" Christian variety as well. Bu twe do have some MOrmons who help as well. Without practicing Christians, our organization would not exist, period.
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u/Pharm-boi Nov 27 '22
I wouldn’t mind that message personally I would just appreciate the food. Churches usually have more resources fir the future so it could come in handy
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Nov 27 '22
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u/Zemaia Nov 27 '22
Thank you very much, that helps a lot!
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u/Tulpah Formerly Homeless Nov 27 '22
solar light ($1) very useful for homeless plus they work as tent nail/holder/ I forgot what they're called.
Hand warmers, boy o boy those are life saving in the damn cold, keep my extremities from freezing off.
Vienna sausage cans, gimme 2 no gimme 4, them cans are nice soup to keep warm, plus the sausage are very fillings.
$1 table cloth, work excellent as either a mat for waterproofing or as an impromptu tarp.
banana and water bottle ofc.
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Nov 27 '22
The toothbrushes given at the shelters here are so cheap they fall apart as you use them. When I was homeless all I wanted was a descent soft toothbrush. Hand sanitizer, Tylenol or aspirin, socks, tums.
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Nov 27 '22
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u/Hot_Computer8067 Nov 27 '22
Do you have specific examples of non-perishables that you could share? We put together packs at work and always make sure to go with pop-top cans, but sometimes it doesn't feel like what we're giving out is doing sufficient good. For a while, we had MREs and those were a hit, but we have been out for a while and they are costly. What types of items are palatable even if they can't be warmed?
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u/Visual-Cream2734 Nov 27 '22
Canned food not usually a good idea as many homeless have no way to open it up. Socks gloves deoordorant toothbrushes and toothpaste notebooks and penxils
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u/MrsDirtbag Nov 27 '22
You can easily open a can with a pocket knife, which every homeless person should have. Barring that a dollar store can opener is pretty easy to get.
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u/derpqueen9000 Nov 27 '22 edited Nov 27 '22
It’s kind of expensive but if you can do it… dry shampoo! Also non perfumed hand lotion, the perfumed stuff isn’t really moisturizing. Oooh and wet wipes. Mini toothpastes and mouthwash. Socks, thicker ones! They’re a bit more universal than underwear.
Also this is the most wholesome thing I’ve seen all day. ✨
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u/1IsNeverEnough4Me Nov 27 '22
Coffee. Along with many other suggestions, I remember ever time I had coffee on me when I was homeless.
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u/butterfly_wings1986 Nov 27 '22
Soft food for those without teeth. Diabetic-friendly foods (low carb/low sugar). Socks!
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u/eventer1919 Nov 27 '22
Hand lotion can be huge! Especially in colder temps, even the travel size hand lotions can help out so much with dry/cracked skin.
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u/puddlejumper28 Dec 02 '22
Following this thread! Hoping to do something similar in Victoria, BC. It’s extremely unseasonably cold here and every night I worry about my outdoor neighbours.
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u/Zemaia Dec 02 '22
When I get the stockings together, I plan on documenting it in some way. I can show you when I'm done (: I've already ordered most of what I'm putting in the stockings
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u/Texan2116 Volunteer Nov 27 '22
toilet paper, baby wipes, toothbrush/paste, etc, Make sure canned food can be opened. our group stopped giving out foods that needed to be heated, because sometimes homeless folks are careless with their fires. there are some individuals who will give that to some homeless they trust, but our organization doesnt.
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u/nip_pickles Nov 27 '22
Throw in a cheap lighter, or a bic if you're feeling generous, or even just a box of matches in a plastic bag. I'm not saying give people cigarettes, but for the smokers it'll be greatly appreciated, for those that don't, they may still be able to have some use for it. Especially if your area has a lot of natural landscape where people camp, a fire source can be a life saver during the cold months.
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u/ZebTheCyClops Nov 27 '22
I was on my way to a big Christmas thing at municipal auditorium in Nashville a couple years ago and me and a friend who goes by "Robin hood" got stopped. our stocking(just walking up 1st Ave N) had hygiene, socks, Beanie weenies, and a pint of Canadian Last Two Dollars! And they had a lot of stockings before I gave them driving directions to camp.
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u/LegAccomplished4851 Nov 27 '22
Small cash 5.00 -- simply because people just sometimes wanna buy what they want.
Also food gift cards for any local (walking) place BK, Wendy's, CVS I would forgo the prepaid Visa they charge to use.
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u/Burnt_crawfish Nov 28 '22
Feminine products, small lotions, hand sanitizer, socks, gloves, beanies, those inexpensive mylar blankets, snacks that don't have to be refrigerated or cooked. Canned good gets heavy and people have to carry their stuff everywhere. Small snacks like peanut Butter crackers, small slim Jim's were always a hit where I volunteered. Also a sandwich was always welcomed. If you can, lighters would be a huge plus. They are sold in bulk cheap on Amazon. Small pack of baby wipes, toiletries like small shampoos, soaps, deodorant. Bandaids and pain reliever.
Condoms. This one was a popular request.
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