By: Amanda Valentine | Staff Writer
“The holidays” has different implications for everyone- whether that be warmth, gifting, traveling, or religion. But nothing is as universally associated with them as kindness. Whatever you celebrate, kindness and love are at the core of many annual Winter traditions. This year, try extending kindness beyond just your shopping list of gifts, or beyond just the circle of people with whom you celebrate your holiday. There are countless ways to bring warmth to those who need it this season. Following are three ways to throw kindness around like fresh snow this season.
In addition to the following, it is just as important to note that an act of kindness doesn’t have to be a physical donation like the ones below. It can simply be the effort to smile at or compliment a stranger. In whatever way you can fit it into your life, make mindfulness and generosity a part of your holiday spirit. The cold months will become just a bit warmer for you and whoever you share it with.
- Care Packages for the Homeless
Many people do not have the choice to go “home for the holidays.” A care package is a helpful, supportive gesture for someone for whom the winter may be unkind. Below are five categories. To compose a package, choose one-two items from each category. What you’ll end up with is a well-rounded, thoughtful, yet still budget-friendly package.
Body Care:
Many products associated with body care can be received with controversy, though they might at the surface seem to be a good contribution. Items like hand sanitizers and mouthwash, while helpful in most cases, are all items to avoid because the latter two can be dangerous for recovering alcohol addicts. Additionally, buying body products with fragrances can be seen as insulting- no one appreciates being told that they smell. And maybe I was biased due to my own Chapstick obsession, but I decided that lip balm would be a good item to include, especially in cold winter months.
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Chapstick
- Tissue
- Feminine Products (sometimes)
Food:
When it comes to food, it is important to choose healthy snacks, because many homeless people suffer from various health issues. While that might bring to mind ideas for various granola bars, it is also important to remember that many people have dental issues, and avoiding crunchy or sticky foods is a more generally safe bet. Attempt to avoid allergens as much as possible, though it is impossible to account for all the possible allergies. While all this in mind, here are some ideas:
- Applesauce
- Lunchables
- Water bottles
- Healthy choice juice boxes
- Energy bars
- Yogurt
- Soft granola bars (such as Nutrigrain)
Warmth:
A great choice to fit in a bag is an item of protective clothing. Quality is important with this matter, though, so trying to include wool products is a caring choice.
- Gloves
- Socks
- Scarves
- Hand warmers
First Aid:
- Bandages
- Small amounts of OTC meds
- Cough drops
- Nail clippers
Notes of Encouragement:
“Of encouragement” is just an umbrella term for the kind of notes you could include. Remind them that they are seen and heard, loved and worthy of love. It can be uplifting to include a heart-warming quote-possibly one from the Bible-whichever comes from your heart. However, avoid religious condescension. If you are certain of where you will hand out care packages, it can also be helpful to include of a list of nearby shelters, and directions to them.
Putting Together a Bag:
I myself purchased one or two items from each of the aforementioned categories and put together two Ziploc bags of the following:
Acadia Spring Water- $2.39 for 12, $0.40 for 2
First Aid kit- $1.49 for 1
Travel toothbrush/toothpaste- $1.99 for 1
Blistex (3)- $3.49 for 2, $1.16 each
Nutrigrain (8)- $3.29, $1.65 for 4
Tissues- $1.39 for 8 packs, $0.60 for 2
Handwarmers- $1.29 for one pack of 2
Each bag put together, is worth $8.58 total. While that is not exactly what I spent in reality, because so many of those items came with deals on bulk purchases, looking at it with the sense of what each bag will cost in the end gives a sense of how this kind gesture can fit into even tight budgets. And you can customize the selection of items to what you can afford.
Delivering a Bag:
How you deliver a bag is entirely up to you. One choice is to keep them in your car, to put a smile on the face of the person waiting out in the cold at an intersection’s red light. You could keep smaller bags in a backpack in case you will be going on winter break trips to a city with a large homeless population. And of course, if approaching people directly feels like a risky or questionable method, you can drop the bags off at a local shelter, where they will be able to distribute the items to the right hands in need for you.
- Angel Trees (and other Community Gifting)
As the holiday season began, many trees popped up around Salve’s campus buildings. They are called Angel Trees, as coordinated by the Salvation Army. By taking a tag off the tree, you can help put a gift under the tree for a child whose family cannot afford to. Each gift should be about $15-$30. Gifts must be delivered unwrapped. Salve’s Angel Tree program ends Thursday, 12/13 at Noon, but many more Angel Trees will be up around Rhode Island and select other states, as indicated on the Salvation Army website.
If you can’t find an Angel Tree at a mall or location near you, consider Toys for Tots, or Make a Wish. Both organizations work hard to bring the kindness and warmth of the holidays to kids who may scarcely find it otherwise.
- Gifts with Multiple Purposes
While many products have claimed the title of “the gift that keeps on giving” over the years, a thoughtful gift that doubles as a donation truly fits that description. Pincause, for example, represents meaningful messages through unique designs on a number of items, and a portion of the proceeds on each purchase go to funding social change related to the cause represented on the respective item. Other businesses that participate in a model like this include The Elephant Pants and LUSH.
Thank you so much and happy holidays everyone!
(And here’s a winter song I’d like to share that fits this post well: “Warm”)
