A food drive collects canned foods for the homeless.
Homelessness is a circumstance that plagues many adults and children in the United States. Although the exact number of homeless individuals cannot be known, the National Coalition for the Homeless explains that homelessness is most often a temporary state, and it is appropriate to understand that people can go in and out of being homeless. Charities and organizations across the country serve to help those who are homeless, but there are also ways that people can help the local homeless individuals in their communities.
Instructions
1. Locate the homeless shelters and charities in your community. Contact the staff or volunteers and ask what type of items the organization is currently collecting for the homeless. For instance, if it is October or November, the organization might be collecting scarves, jackets, boots and canned soups in preparation for winter. Or, the organization might tell you that they need clothing for females, but have enough clothing for males. Ask them what the drop-off hours are for people who wish to donate materials to the agency.
2. Go through your closet and drawers and pull out clothes that you would be willing to part with. Make a pile of the items you feel good about donating, and place them into a large box to be dropped off to the homeless shelter or agency.
3. Ask others around you to donate some articles of clothing, too. You can get your friends involved, parents, siblings or neighbors. Let people know that you want to give the clothes to the homeless shelter.
4. Organize a food drive at your school, at church or in your community. A food drive is an activity where you collect canned or packaged foods from people who are willing to donate. Canned tuna fish, soups, beans, vegetables and fruit are acceptable items. Advertise for the food drive and let everyone know that it's going towards a good cause. Besides a food drive, you might also ask people to donate bars of soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes and children's toys. Deliver your donated items to the homeless organization.
5. Ask about volunteer opportunities at the homeless shelter. You can help the homeless by becoming a volunteer and assisting them with activities. For instance, you might volunteer to help in a soup kitchen serving soup, or you might volunteer to read stories to homeless children.
6. Write a check or donate money directly to a homeless organization in your area. If you do not have clothes, food or other items that you wish to donate, you can still help the homeless by giving money to the shelter. With your money, shelter staff and volunteers can buy much needed supplies for those who stay with them.
Tags: food drive, homeless shelter, help homeless, homeless individuals, homeless organization, know that