Things you can do

I was over at the homeless shelter this morning dropping off clothes, sheets & pillowcases, comforters, and all kinds of softwear that I’ve been collecting for years for no apparently good reason.
Shelters are always grateful for donations, but all too often we think of them as a convenient dumping ground for things we don’t need or want. Thus, there are a lot of things that shelters don’t get that they really need. Next time you’re shopping, think of picking up a few extra things for your local shelter, such as:

• toothpaste
• tooth brushes
• deodorant
• bandages and first aid supplies
• gloves and hats
• soap, towels, washcloths
• bus tokens or cards so that shelter residents can get out and find jobs

Sometimes it’s easy to see a shelter as a place for losers or those who expect a handout. In real life, shelters are filled with individuals or families who were laid off and lost their homes; people who have psychological problems and no one to help them; people like you and me who were living from paycheck to paycheck… and then lost that paycheck.