3 answers
jacky
Student
Arlington, Virginia
1
Question
Asked
1154 views
what can i do to help people in need of shelter and food?
i asked this question because i want to know how to help the people in need of a lot of things and help them sucsced in life and put a smile on their faces. also because they deserve a lot of help and i want to help them. #helping
3 answers
Roland Burney
Solutions Manager
48
Answers
Updated
Roland’s Answer
Google soup kitchens and volunteer time. You also can buy food or start a food drive through Second Harvest Food Bank. I sometimes just look for people in need of help on the street and take them for a hot meal. You can also print flyers for local shelters and pass them around.
Roland recommends the following next steps:
Victoria German
Sr. Mgr. Ntwrk Security & HSO Member
84
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Victoria’s Answer
Hi Jacky,
I really like your question. It shows that you see there is a need in the community and you are ready to roll up your sleeves and make a difference. There are so many ways you can get involved. The most important thing is to start small and achieve your first goal, assess what worked, and set a new goal. As you gain more experience and learn more about the issues, you will find new projects and new ways to make a difference.
Start your journey by finding a friend or some friends at school or at other activities you participate in who feel the same way. Working on community projects together is fun: it builds teamwork skills and it also keeps you motivated toward achieving a specific goal, like:
let's raise 40 pounds of canned food for the local food bank in one month; or
let's make 20 comfort kits for the local shelter/mission in two week; or
let's find or donate 20 teddy bears that we can give to our local shelter
Before you figure out your goal, you will need to identify the organization that you think needs your support and determine if they can use these specific items. You will probably need to include a parent, teacher, or mentor to guide you through this process at first but be prepared with some knowledge about the organizations in your area. Find their webpage and their FAQ (frequently asked questions): How do they work? What donations do they accept? Can I volunteer in person?
So start by identifying the organizations in your community that need help AND match your interests AND you feel you have a connection with AND you want to work with more. This will motivate you during the hard work phase. Always start small and work up to larger projects.
From your question, it sounds like you are interested in organizations that focus on hunger/food insecurity and homelessness. Hunger and homelessness affect children (and families) disproportionately. Your volunteer work, especially with children, will literally change someone's life and quality of their life for the better.
So how are some ways you can make a difference:
Consider volunteering at a food bank by collecting or sorting food. Sometimes there is an age limit or a specific set of rules for volunteering with a nonprofit organization. Find out what these rules are and figure out how you can help today as well as in the future [Here is a big hint - many nonprofit leaders started out as volunteers when they were kids :)!!! asking the same question you are asking now...] So it might be that your school is a great place to start building a relationship with your local food bank. Consider holding a drive to collect canned food in your classroom, club, sports team, band, or with your friends.
Shelters/missions that serve the homeless also need many items that we take for granted and there are many ways you can assist them with resources:
1)Consider holding a drive to collect travel size soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste and making little kits.
2) Consider holding a drive to collect toys for kids in shelters. This toy or stuffed animal might make a huge difference in a child's life. Children's books are also a very valuable item that shelters often need.
3) Consider making something by hand - In the Dallas area (and in other areas across the country) volunteers are knitting scarves and hats out of yarn and donating these to homeless shelters.
4) Many people have items in their house that they are no longer using. These can be collected and donated to nonprofits who in turn sell these items to fund projects that provide job training programs and fund projects that help the community tackle issues related to homelessness and hunger.
Jacky, I would love to know what you decide to work on now and in the future. Keep us posted.
I really like your question. It shows that you see there is a need in the community and you are ready to roll up your sleeves and make a difference. There are so many ways you can get involved. The most important thing is to start small and achieve your first goal, assess what worked, and set a new goal. As you gain more experience and learn more about the issues, you will find new projects and new ways to make a difference.
Start your journey by finding a friend or some friends at school or at other activities you participate in who feel the same way. Working on community projects together is fun: it builds teamwork skills and it also keeps you motivated toward achieving a specific goal, like:
let's raise 40 pounds of canned food for the local food bank in one month; or
let's make 20 comfort kits for the local shelter/mission in two week; or
let's find or donate 20 teddy bears that we can give to our local shelter
Before you figure out your goal, you will need to identify the organization that you think needs your support and determine if they can use these specific items. You will probably need to include a parent, teacher, or mentor to guide you through this process at first but be prepared with some knowledge about the organizations in your area. Find their webpage and their FAQ (frequently asked questions): How do they work? What donations do they accept? Can I volunteer in person?
So start by identifying the organizations in your community that need help AND match your interests AND you feel you have a connection with AND you want to work with more. This will motivate you during the hard work phase. Always start small and work up to larger projects.
From your question, it sounds like you are interested in organizations that focus on hunger/food insecurity and homelessness. Hunger and homelessness affect children (and families) disproportionately. Your volunteer work, especially with children, will literally change someone's life and quality of their life for the better.
So how are some ways you can make a difference:
Consider volunteering at a food bank by collecting or sorting food. Sometimes there is an age limit or a specific set of rules for volunteering with a nonprofit organization. Find out what these rules are and figure out how you can help today as well as in the future [Here is a big hint - many nonprofit leaders started out as volunteers when they were kids :)!!! asking the same question you are asking now...] So it might be that your school is a great place to start building a relationship with your local food bank. Consider holding a drive to collect canned food in your classroom, club, sports team, band, or with your friends.
Shelters/missions that serve the homeless also need many items that we take for granted and there are many ways you can assist them with resources:
1)Consider holding a drive to collect travel size soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste and making little kits.
2) Consider holding a drive to collect toys for kids in shelters. This toy or stuffed animal might make a huge difference in a child's life. Children's books are also a very valuable item that shelters often need.
3) Consider making something by hand - In the Dallas area (and in other areas across the country) volunteers are knitting scarves and hats out of yarn and donating these to homeless shelters.
4) Many people have items in their house that they are no longer using. These can be collected and donated to nonprofits who in turn sell these items to fund projects that provide job training programs and fund projects that help the community tackle issues related to homelessness and hunger.
Jacky, I would love to know what you decide to work on now and in the future. Keep us posted.
Jeanine Harris
Chat Supervisor
23
Answers
Updated
Jeanine’s Answer
Hi Jacky! What a great way to give back to your community! I think that every little bit helps. I have assisted people in need in a couple of ways:
- Donate blankets, towels, etc. to the homeless shelter.
- Help with serving food at local churches.
- Organize a food drive for your local food pantry.
These are a few ways that you can start to help! I certainly believe that we can each make a big impact in the world, one kind gesture at a time! :)
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