Thanksgiving is three days away, which means its that time where we feel even more compelled to give thanks and give back. And although I feel we should embody this compulsion as a way of life, not just around the holidays, sometimes it is hard to get there (or know where to give, and how), and embrace the art of unconditional giving. So, over the next few weeks there may be a few more posts with ways that I hope inspire giving back--and not just now, but year round. 8 Ways To Give To A Women's Homeless Shelter was an article I wrote for Thoughts By Natalie last month. You can read the original piece--over here ; or read it in full below. To find a women's shelter in your community, you can simply search by starting here.
Over
and over, I am reminded of this reality: Our world is fleeting.
Unlike me, there are woman who lack the privilege to choose from a
closet full of clothes when deciding what to wear. They do not have a
full pantry, where come breakfast, are faced with the choice between
oatmeal or peanut butter toast. There are women who do not get to
choose between hitting snooze or waking up early to go on a run. You
see, there are woman (women just like you, and just like me, with
personalities, passions, and working hearts and minds) who wear
one outfit each day with hopes that maybe, just maybe, they'll get to
wash it in a shelter sink that night. There are women, who are given
breakfast bags and food despite whether they like it or not. And
women who, upon waking up when the sun rises or when the
temperature's too unbearable for sleep, do not get to stay in the
warm comforts of a bed because bus routes don't care about snooze
buttons, and signing up for shelters means early rising. It's these
realities, those of the women I have gotten to know and care for
while spending nights at a women's shelter—I'm reminded over and
over that my comforts are not for keeps.
Many
people ask how they can help, or what they can do to make a
difference in the lives of homeless women. Not everyone can give up a
night or two each week to stay awake while women sleep and find safe
sanctuary in a night shelter. And not everyone feels comfortable
giving to the individual standing on a street corner asking for help.
But before you decide where you fit, and how you are willing to give,
remind yourself of this: Your comforts are not for keeps, just as
their comforts were stripped. Not everyone who is homeless chose to
be that way. And if you can't give anything at all, remember that
simply saying "I hope you find a warm place to sleep tonight,"
can speak volumes to the person who receives them. Because, really,
what I've come to know in my time staying with woman at a shelter in
Denver each week, is that the biggest things you can give is
acknowledgment and words that make that individual feel seen, and
even more—valued.
In a world where homelessness often becomes invisible to those who
are not around it, or choose not to see it, simple words can be the
biggest way to give.
A
practical way you can give, helping women feel cared for as if they
were guests in a dear friends home, is by donating a few things to
your local shelter. Women at the shelter often ask for the simplest
of things; mostly items that we take for granted or bundle up as our
very own comforts.
ONE: Gently
Loved Blankets
Think
of your coziest spot. It typically involves a blanket. Shelter's are
often strapped for blankets that aren't from the "reject"
pile, which means many of the women sleep with itchy fabrics or
throws that are too small for warmth. The next time you do some
cleaning out, and find some cozy blankets in your giveaway pile,
perhaps drop it off at a local shelter.
TWO: Brown
Paper Bags, or preassembled Breakfast Sacks
Not
all shelters provide breakfast bags for the women before sending them
off to greet the day. But should they, brown paper bags and ziploc
baggies tend to run out of quickly. Donating these goodies can help
keep breakfast bags assembled. You may want to check with a local
shelter to see if they are in need of preassembled breakfast sacks.
Especially if you're a foodie or love to bake, what a great way to
give back by baking muffins, cooking hardboiled eggs, and placing
fresh fruit all together for the women to enjoy.
THREE: Face
Wash
After
a long day, how refreshing a clean face feels! Donate travel size, or
full size, face wash for the shelter to offer to the women. As many
shelter's do not have showers, a sink to wash one's face is a simple
luxury.
FOUR: Magazines
I
brought magazines into my shelter the other day and the women LOVED
it. They told me that the magazines, and books, that are donated get
brought to other shelters and rotated around, making reading while
laying on their cots before sleep a bit more like home.
FIVE: Soap
This
is a daily necessity, and often shelter's run out of a simple thing
like soap. Any toiletries are always a great thing to donate, and
shelter's are always so thankful for having extras on hand for the
women that stay each night.
SIX: Wet
Wipes
Travel
wet wipes that the women can carry in their bags to and from shelters
and around the city are a small comfort that makes a big difference.
How great it feels to be able to sleep with clean feet, or use the
wipes when a shower isn't readily available.
SEVEN: Socks
Every
weekend I have women asking me if we have more socks. And more often
than not, we don't. The next time you're at Costco or Ross, pick up a
bargain package that is filled with socks that you could give to your
local shelter. Warms feet during cold winter days outside can make
all the difference. How simple socks are, yet how high the demand is
for them at the shelters.
EIGHT: Coffee
When
the lights go on at 6 o'clock at the shelter I volunteer at, coffee
is surely what gets the women going. Yet, we run out quickly.
Typically, it is the hosting church or building that spends their
budget on things like coffee beans, cups, creamer, and sugar packets.
Donating bulk sized ground coffee may keep that coffee available for
the entire month. Think of how much you enjoy your cup of jo--so do
the women at the shelter! For those women who set off to go to job
interviews, meet with case managers, and walk the cold city streets
this fall and winter, that cup of warm brewed coffee can really start
the day off great.
