How to Help Feed the Homeless

With the abundance of resources available on our planet, it is a great tragedy that the uneven distribution of these resources results in poverty, hunger and homelessness for many people. Many people turn a blind eye toward the problem of homelessness but many others choose to be proactive. If you find yourself wanting to something about this problem, there are many ways to help feed the homeless.

Instructions

1. Make food and personal item donations to your local homeless shelter during off months. Certain times of year are especially difficult for shelters who provide meals for the homeless. During the holidays, such places often receive generous donations from fundraising efforts and donation drives that are linked to Thanksgiving or Christmas. The remaining months often leave a small trickle of donations with which the shelter can feed the homeless. Your donations will be especially appreciated when received during these slower times.

2. Stretch your donation farther. Instead of just stuffing cash in the donation jar, check to see what items the shelter is especially in need of and then research the ads for the grocery stores in your area to see who has these items on sale. You may be able to stretch your donation further if you find out what the shelter needs and then look for sales on the items so you can purchase them at a discount to donate.

3. Bargain shop. The next time you head out to do your own grocery shopping, you can help feed the homeless by contributing the savings from your coupons and special deals to a local shelter. For example, if there is a buy one, get one free sale on cereal, you can buy the box you intended to by for your own family and then donate the free box.

4. Think beyond monetary donations. You can certainly help feed the homeless by donating money, but shelters are also in need of volunteers. Donate your time to help prepare and serve meals, clean up after the meals and offer to do anything else the shelter needs help with.

5. Spread awareness. Though you may be doing everything you can do to help feed the homeless with your own donations of time and money, you can do even more to help by spreading awareness of the plight of the hungry and homeless in your community. Talk to the director at your local shelter to see how you might assist them in promoting their cause.

Tips & Warnings

• Make it a habit to set aside your pocket change each day and donate the accumulation once a year to help feed the homeless.