Penny Jar

I used to be homeless, too. These people have a special place in my heart because i know how tough it is to hold down a job, raise a family, and try to get through school without a place to call home.

It gets down to little things like trying to find a shower everyday and a place to iron your shirts for work. Yeah, sure there are people who could probably do better if they put some effort into doing things differently, but i think the same could be said of all of us.

The really steep ache about being homeless is the sense of alienation. Of knowing that everyone is heading home for supper with their families as the sun is going down, while you are just trying to find a safe place to sleep.

The sense of being outcast, of having no social exchange without currency in a capitalist society, is almost worse than being thrown out of the tribe in the oldeney days, because people look right through you in complete denial of your humanity.

So i would suggest that you show some kindness to those without.

After all, in a way we are all beggars before the universe, are we not?

Here are some things you can do:

Whenever you eat in a restaurant, order two of what you’re having and take one dish to a homeless person outside.

Give those old blankets/sweaters/gloves/coats/hats to the homeless. It’s getting cold.

Buy a bouquet and give it to someone on the street. Someone who looks like they haven’t gotten flowers for years, if ever. Tell them it’s for their beautiful smile.

Make up a small toiletry bag of shampoo, razors, soap, etc. A lot of homeless people have to get ready for work in public washrooms and need something portable to take with them. Also, they probably won’t have the cash to buy a super-sized bonus litre bottle of shampoo, even if they had somewhere to put it. A little fudge brownie down at the bottom of the bag wouldn’t hurt, either.

Buy gift certificates for restaurants and hand them out to those poor skinny kids begging outside the liquor store. Go ahead. They’re not going to mainline them, are they?

Take your old recyclable bottles and cans and leave them in boxes beside the dumpster for those “volunteer recyclers” to pick up. Old clothes are good finds for them, too.

Have a “my favourite recipes” competition. Award everyone, even if it’s for “most colourful dish”, then donate all the food to the homeless, and make a Xerox recipe book of the entries to sell as a fundraiser for the hungry.

If you have a friend who is unemployed/underemployed and you have a bit of time everyday, why not take their resume around and see if you can get them a decent job? Underemployed people, especially, have trouble finding the time to get out of their horrible rut.

If you see people begging in the streets, sit down with them and offer to split your lunch. Your company is probably just as important as the food, to a lot of street people.

You know those wee kids sleeping on the sidewalk at twilight? Maybe they would really appreciate a bedtime story. Be sure to leave the book with them.

If you have the ability to buy wholesale, why not use it to buy a little extra for the local foodbank? Sadly, these institutions seem to be trying to satisfy an increasing clientele with increasingly shrinking resources. A few extra cups of rice or milk could make a big difference for some! If you can get away with donating anonymously, so much the better.

Hire somebody. If you can, hire and train somebody (students, immigrants, handicapped or homeless people) who would never otherwise have the experience or training to get a job. This could be an incredible stepping stone for some, as well as the difference between ‘poverty’ and ‘getting by’ for many others. If you are a coordinating type, try getting a work initiative program going for a select group of people in your neighbourhood, and arrange for the program to be carried out amongst your business contacts.

Take an extra pair of mittens with you to the bus stop. I’m sure you’ll be able to find someone who forgot theirs sitting there shivering with red hands!