Volunteer At A Soup Kitchen For The Holidays
There are thousands of homeless people in the United States. As of 2005, there were 744,313 homeless, according to a study done by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. These numbers may not even truly represent the homeless population, as many people are never counted during the studies. The study also showed that:
* 59% are individuals; 41% are persons in families
* 23% are chronically homeless
* 56% are sheltered (emergency shelter or transitional facility);
* 44% are unsheltered (sleeping/living on the street)
Many of the homeless rely on soup kitchens and other charities to live from day to day. The holidays are no exception. The holidays are a tough time for the homeless, especially those with children. Even more people seem to need an extra hand at the holidays. Unfortunately, many people lose their jobs at this time of year, adding to the homeless population.
Shelters and soup kitchens need a lot of assistance to keep helping people. Donations are one way to help the homeless. By bringing food and other supplies, like plates, cups and other table settings, it can help cut back on the operating costs at the shelter. Even more important is actually showing up to help serve meals.
Taking the time to make someone else's day better is a great gift -to them and you. It is a great thing to do as a family. It will help your children to learn the importance of helping others less fortunate. It helps them to be thankful for the blessings that they have, like a home, warm clothing and regular meals.
After helping at the holidays your family may decide to do this on a regular basis. Homelessness is an ongoing problem that doesn't end after the holidays. Chose a schedule that works for your family. Whether it's once a month or once a week, the soup kitchen will be thankful for the help. Another idea could be to take some of the meals to those who don't feel comfortable coming to the shelter. This is best done by a small group going together to deliver the meals.
If, for some reason, your community doesn't have a soup kitchen, consider starting one. Talk to the community houses of worship and see if one can donate their kitchen to be used to prepare the meals. If they have a fellowship hall it could be used for serving the homeless. Contact the local government agencies to see what regulations there are before starting to make sure the health codes are followed.
Taking the time to help others could be the best gift you ever give.
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