Pinterest Inspired Wednesday- Blessing Bags

Last year I read the book Same Kind of Different as Me. It totally changed my view on homelessness.

A few months ago, I saw this pin on Pinterest:

Source: kwavs.blogspot.com via ncsuz on Pinterest

They called them "Blessing bags" to give to homeless people instead of feeling guilty and just avoiding eye contact or giving them money which is apparently the last thing you should do.

I see homeless people a lot more here in the Triangle than I have any other place I have lived.  In downtown Raleigh I have had a man follow me until I gave him some money.  I don't really like giving money because I am afraid they are either conning me and not really homeless or they will use the money on drugs or alcohol.  So I decided to make these "Blessing Bags".  Here is how mine turned out:

I included shampoo, body wash, wash cloths, lotion, a comb, tissues, deodorant, gloves, crackers, candy, toothbrush, toothpaste, chapstick, advil, antibacterial wipes, band aids, a dollar in change and an encouragement card and a list of area resources for the homeless with addresses and phone numbers.

I ended up making four total and last week I gave the first one to an older man with a cane on a popular mall exit in Durham.  I said "I hope you can use this stuff...I just tried to think of things you might need."  He seemed a little weirded out at first by the bag, but then said "Oh yes mam. Thank you."

After making the bags, researching homeless resources in the area (there are a ton!) and thinking about it some more, I think after I pass out all these bags I might just do encouragement cards with a list of homeless resources and maybe a McDonald's gift card.  I mean there are a ton of places in the area where they could get these things and more.  Maybe they just don't know about them or don't want to try to get help there (because I'm sure they had drug and alcohol policies)?

One of the best local organizations I found was the Durham Rescue Mission.  They had a great page that gave tips on how to help the homeless:

1. Never give cash to a homeless person

Well intended gifts are often used to purchase drugs or alcohol.  If a person is hungry, buy them a sandwich or beverage.

2. Talk with the homeless person with respect

Take time to speak in a friendly, respectful manner.

3. Realize the homeless and their problems are not all the same

Remember those who are homeless may be homeless for many reasons, such as addictions, domestic abuse, poverty, lack of job skills...the list goes on.

4. Share God's love whenever you can

The Lord would have us to share His love and salvation with everyone we come in contact with each day.  Those who are homeless often feel isolated and lonely.  They need to hear that their shattered lives can be mended through and in Christ.

5. Pray for the homeless and [organization's that help the homeless]

God can use your prayers to bring many who are broken in heart and spirit to Himself.  As you pray for those who are homeless pray for [local organizations that help the homeless].  [Their] staff is on the frontlines each day reaching out to share the love of God with men, women, and children in need.

6. Take precautions for your own safety

Always be aware of your surroundings when reaching out to the homeless.  Stay in areas where other people can see you.  Don't take unnecessary chances.  Some men and women living on the streets are criminals and/or fugitives from the law.  Use good judgment.

7. Encourage the homeless to get help

The homeless [can] find a hot meal, safe-shelter, clean clothing, vocational training, biblical counsel, job placement, as well as free dental, eye, and health care [through organizations that help the homeless].  Most importantly, they will find a loving, caring staff ready and willing to help them back to a productive life.

8. Support [local organizations that help the homeless]

Thoughts??  How do you interact with the homeless?

Habit of Helping- CHECK!

Have you ever seen the movie Seven Pounds? It’s a little weird, and I could not stand the jellyfish in that movie, but I loved how he did these MAJOR things for other people. Things like giving an abused woman a house so she could escape her abuser, donating a kidney, a lobe of his lung, a part of his liver, and ultimately his eyes and heart. Most of the people he helps are strangers.

When I made my 30 Before 30 List and put “Help a Stranger” on there, I kind of had this huge type of help in mind. Or saving someone’s life, or even helping someone change a tire (not likely since I can’t even change my own tire!)

But I think I have started something better. I think I have started the practice of helping people everyday so that if I am ever called upon to help in some major way, I will be ready.

I started out volunteering for the SPCA a few years ago. I would go one night each week and take all the dogs out for the last time before bed, clean their rooms, make their beds and give each one a kong with peanut butter as I put them in their crates. I supplemented it by volunteering a few weekends doing such things as giving the dogs play time, teaching them manners and tricks like sit/down, and helping families find a dog to adopt or volunteering for such things as their K9 3K fundraising event. This was before I had Cam and I loved it. Once I got a dog of my own, I didn’t have the time to commit to it, but I did that for over 2 years.

Now I volunteer at church at our first time guest table every Sunday and I just signed on to be on a Marketing Advisory Board for a non-profit.

For some reason I still didn’t feel like I could mark “help a stranger” off my list.

So I tried doing things like paying for the person behind me in the drive-thru. It made me feel good for a few minutes, but didn’t give me that “Man, I did something really good and changed someone’s life” kind of feeling. I just kept feeling like it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t giving up part of my body or making anyone’s dreams come true.

A few weeks ago my Bible Study group adopted a little girl for Christmas from our leader’s school that she teaches at. We all went shopping together for her and we had so much fun. We went a little crazy and got her SO many things! We got her a few outfits, a few pairs of shoes, an easy bake oven and some food to make in it, a jewelry making kit, craft supplies, and even more things I can’t even remember! In all we spent about $200 on her and our cart was over-flowing! Check it out:




Last night I asked the girls if they thought I could use this to mark off “Help a Stranger” on my list and they all said of course! I thought and thought about this for days/weeks and I have decided to mark this off my list. Not because of this one event, but because I can see that I have developed the HABIT of helping others. I try to do whatever I can to give back and if someone ever does need something huge from me one day, I know I’ll be ready.

My Mom Said Don't Talk to Strangers

The weirdest thing happened last night. I was at Target shopping with witty guy and we were looking at the bathing suits on the 30% off rack (I have no idea why because I am no where near bikini ready, but I just can’t resist looking.) Anyway, this girl comes up and starts looking on the other side of the rack. Then she gets closer and closer and strikes up the following conversation:


Girl: “Oh, did you go to ECU?” (I was wearing one of my very old Zeta shirts)

Me: (Smiling) “Oh, (looking down at my shirt) yeah I did” (awkward pause) “Did you go there too?”

Girl: “Oh, no” (long awkward pause while she stands there smiling) “Did you like it?”

Me: (a little confused) “Yeah it was really nice. I did like it.” (still smiling and friendly)

Girl: (to witty guy) “Did you go there too?”

Witty Guy: (a little surprised and confused) “Oh, uh, no I’m from out of state”

Girl: “Oh, ok…” (more staring and smiling and nodding)

Me: (wanting to escape this awkward moment turning to Witty Guy) “Do you like this one?” (holding up a swimsuit and ignoring the girl)

She lingered a little longer as we discussed the pros and cons of the swimsuit, but eventually she got the point and walked away.

After a few minutes I said to witty guy “Was that just really weird?” He was like “uh YEAH!” We discussed why this random girl might have decided to strike up a very random conversation with us and just felt more freaked out and confused by it. I mean I thought maybe she went to ECU too or somehow I knew her from somewhere but really that conversation was going no where and just felt weird! We walked around the store for the rest of the time trying to avoid running in to her again.

I did have to give her props for starting up a conversation with a random stranger, but still it was weird. I would never walk up to some couple shopping and try to start up a random conversation without some kind of point. In fact, I have a pretty big wall up when it comes to strangers. I can manage light conversation and friendliness, but until I get to know you and trust you, I will keep you at arms length. Some people may call it being shy. To some people it may come off as being stuck-up or a little bitchy. But I can’t help it. It takes a little while to gain my trust and have me open up to you.

How about you? Do you talk to strangers?

Chivalry is Dead…

…which is probably why I need to marry a mechanic.

This Friday I went to the movies after work to see Bride Wars with some friends. (it was oh so cute!) On the way there I noticed my car kind of shaking and making a noise. I turned down the radio to really listen and noticed the noise/shaking stopped when I slowed down or stopped. It’s a short drive from my house to the theater, so I didn’t have much time to evaluate the situation, but I found it odd because I had just made the much longer drive from work to home and didn’t notice a thing on that trip.

When I got to the theater, I looked at my tires since that is what I had deduced might be the offender. Sure enough my back tire looked way more flat than my front. I bent down to see if there was a nail or something in it and when I touched it, it was burning hot! I compared it to the temperature of my front tire which was not hot at all and came to the conclusion that something was really wrong. But I would deal with it after the movie.

So after the movie, Steph, Amber, and Alicia came over to my car to try to help. Amber had this nifty little contraption that you plug in to your car and it pumps air into your tire. The only problem is it sounds like a really, really loud generator. No way could you NOT notice us in the parking lot! For such a little thing, it sure made a lot of noise!






But despite this spectacle not one person stopped to offer help or even ask! People were walking past trying to avoid eye contact. One guy even got in to his car right beside us and left without saying a word. I know it is a Friday night and you might be late for your movie, but can’t you recognize a damsel in distress when you see one?!

I mean just to cross off #15 on my list, I sometimes walk around hoping to run in to a situation like this (not that I would be much help in THIS particular situation- cars are not my forte). But judging from this experience, most people have no desire at all to help a stranger.

Back to the story…the mini generator wasn’t able to make a difference at all to the tire after 15 minutes or so of pumping. So I called AAA, who informed me the average wait time was ONE HOUR! We called our friend Spazz, who used to work at a tire place, and he laughed and said he was on his way.

But before he could show up, the AAA man showed up much earlier than expected (flashing lights and all). If we weren’t a spectacle before, we were now.




He tried to pump air into the tire and we could just hear it gushing out. He got my spare out of the trunk (I am amazed one could fit in that tiny little thing!) and set about changing the tire. (After watching this, I know there is no way I could have done that myself!) When he took the old tire off he gasped. There was a HUGE hole along half of the backside of my tire!





I was surprised I made it to the theater alive! I was so thankful to have my friends with me during this whole ordeal, because I seriously probably would have broke down in tears and called my mom for help had I been by myself.

Needless to say I spent all of Saturday afternoon at the tire place replacing the dead tire. I thought they would be cheap since it’s such a little car, but the guy informed me the tires on there now were $215 each! I asked for a cheaper version and came out right at about $175, which is still way too much.

Ironically my car is not completely back to normal. My left turn signal light had went out earlier that week (the one right behind the tire that died). The tire place didn’t have the bulb for it, so my blinker is still out. But it makes me think God was trying to tell me something last week. Maybe if I would’ve gone in to get the blinker looked at my tire wouldn’t have exploded?

Who knows…I hate car stuff which is also why I need to marry a mechanic.