Blessing Bags

There are three homeless men who work the corners between the hospital and the freeway.  

They are usually there at rush hour, with their cardboard signs.  We make that drive pretty often, and awhile back Little One got to wondering what the heck they were doing out there.  Didn't they know there was traffic around; that it isn't safe to stand on the edge of the road like that?

And so launched a long and deep conversation about homelessness.  A conversation which spanned days.  Weeks.  There are a lot of questions to ask about homelessness.  

One thing we discussed was why we usually don't give out money- even when people ask for it, even when they need it.  In the end, Little One said She understood.  But it really bothered Her that there were people asking us for help, and we were driving by.  We talked about how we can always give smiles, and look people in the eye with kindness. Because not being ignored is always a gift.  That helped, but it wasn't enough. Every time we made the drive, Her heart would ache over not having anything to give.  

When it came time for Her birthday, out of the blue She thought of those men and others we've seen on corners with signs, and She made Her request about gifts for them instead of Herself.  

So we talked about the specifics of that, and decided on Blessing Bags.  

We asked guests at Her party to bring things like toiletries, new socks, and protein bars instead of presents.  After the party we dumped all the goodies into a heap, and Little One carefully doled them out into equal piles.  

She packed each little pile into a gallon-sized ziploc bag, and we had a stash of Blessing Bags!

 Now we keep a few in the car, so that if we encounter someone who needs help, we have something to give. Little One thinks this is the best birthday gift ever. Now She has something Important.  A way to do something kind.  I like it too.  It really is a gift that keeps giving!