If you are looking for a super simple and fun service project that you can do alone or with a group, look no further. Making Blessing Bags for the homeless is a great way to involve kids in service and have a huge impact on the homeless community. Blessing Bags are simply that–bags full of blessings (useful items) for the homeless.
Before You Make the Bags, Talk to Your Kids about Blessing Bags and Homelessness
Make sure your children understand what you are doing and why. You may need to tailor your talk depending on the ages of the children participating.
- Younger children may need to learn what a home really is and what kinds of homes there are. Have children think about what kinds of shelters homeless people might find or make.
- Talk about the definition of poverty. Make sure that the children understand that just because someone is homeless doesn’t mean that they are lazy. Sometimes people have a hard time finding a job. Unfortunate things could have happened to them that were beyond their control.
- Talk about what a neighbor really is. God wants us to take care of our neighbors. You could read the story of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
What To Do:
Gather some useful items that might be a blessing to someone who is homeless. It could be anything from non-perishable snacks to hand warmers and water. Even small pads of paper and pens could be of use. If it’s winter, hand warmers are definitely welcome!
Here is what we put in our bags:
granola bars
packs of oatmeal
snack crackers
fruit cups with plastic spoons
chapstick
candy and gum–Homeless people deserve a little luxury too!
bottles of water
beef jerky
warm socks
hand warmers
wet wipes
a handmade card
We had the privilege of doing this service project with some of our friends from a homeschool field trip group. We gathered together at The Cookery, a local restaurant that helps train men who were formerly homeless so that they can take their newly found culinary skills to the workplace.
The organizer divided up some items from her list amongst the participants, just to make sure that there weren’t duplicates. All the items were laid out on separate tables. Then the kids went around with gallon size bags and filled them with one of each item. After all the bags were filled, we made cards to put inside the bags. Each child got to take home a Blessing Bag to give away to someone in need. Then we got to eat lunch at The Cookery, and the proceeds went to support their fantastic program!
What If You Don’t Have a Group to Make the Bags With?
Although this is a really fun thing to do with a group, it is also an easy project to do as a family. It just might cost a little more to get supplies for the bag!
Or get your own group of friends together and make a party out of it!
How Can You Give Out Your Bags?
We pass a lot of homeless people on street corners, selling the Contributor, a newspaper designed for the homeless to sell and make money. Because of this, it is easy for us to hand out our bags as we travel around town.
Almost every medium to large size town will have people you could hand your bags out to downtown. Parks that homeless people frequent could be another option. If you aren’t comfortable with that, or don’t have a convenient way to hand the bags out, you could donate them to a homeless shelter or food bank.
Say a Prayer for the People Who Receive Your Bags
It is wonderful to teach your children to care for others, but God is able to do so much more than we are. We need to remind our kids to pray for those receiving the bags and ask God to touch their lives as well. It also turns the focus off of our good deed, and points the glory where it is deserved.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
Check out my Servant Hearts Pinterest board or Our Favorite Christmas Service Project for more service ideas!
Have you ever made Blessing Bags? What other ways do you serve the homeless?
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I keep meaning to do this, and your list of things to put into blessing bags is awesome. Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer DeFrates/Heaven Not Harvard recently posted…3 Ways to be a Happier Mom
I have wanted to do this for a while, but we don’t have many homeless in our direct area, and money has been tight.
But these ideas are great!
I have always had a soft spot for the homeless and in the future pray I am able to do this.
I pray that you will get to do it soon too. I understand about money being tight! It really helps out to have people pitch in and do it together. Until then, I’m sure God will give you plenty of other opportunities to bless others without spending a dime!
My MIL has a group that does this. The kids and I help them out every year. It’s so nice to see the happy faces of the families when we go around to distribute the bags.
That’s wonderful!
and parents need to be making sure that they have the right attitude as well!
andi recently posted…Over $70 In New Savings For You Today!
I love this! I’ve thought about doing something like this for a couple years! Our church did something similar! Such a wonderful way to teach your children how to love their neighbor! Thanks for sharing!
You should give it a try. It is fun and easy any time of the year.
This is a wonderful idea!
Thanks. I can’t take all the credit for it!
Yay for you writing all this up! I thought the morning went great!
All thanks to you. You do a great job!
This is a great idea! I have done something similar in the past and I’ve been wanting to start up again. We recently moved to an area where there are a lot more homeless people on the street corners. I like your idea of including hand warmers. That’s something I hadn’t thought of but is very needed. Another idea is to include a list of homeless shelters or churches in your local area that serve meals to homeless people. That way, they can plug into additional help beyond the one encounter with you. Thanks for motivating and inspiring me to get going on this project!
Your idea of including a list of homeless shelters and churches that serve the homeless is great! I am glad you feel inspired. Thanks for reading!
This is such a great idea – surely the simplest things to us can make the biggest difference to others.
Helen recently posted…The Love of God Saves {Advent Devotional}
This is such a wonderful idea of getting your kids involved! It truly can be done with any age and is something we should all do. Love that you did it together as a family!!
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