I met this awesome guy named Troy today while going to get my son some shoes, we stopped and talked – and he thanked me for even taking the time to acknowledge him as he said people don’t even make eye contact with him anymore. I told him just because you’re experiencing an unfortunate situation doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of being treated with dignity and respect, you’re still a human. He broke down crying, and so did I… because why is being kind, especially without seeking fame or a reward for it so rare nowadays? He didn’t even ask me for anything, he was just happy I noticed him – me and my son exchanged fist bumps with him and walked off.
We went back to the car and I ended up coming back and giving him $60 and I gave him my number and offered to come hang out with him from time to time at the McDonald’s he was near.
He said he lives in a tent nearby in the woods.
I want to take it upon myself to make his day to day life easier. I don’t really have much, I’m a single mom scrapping by – but I was blessed enough to receive a small unexpected check in the mail today which is what prompted me to even give the money to begin with, so I just want to bless him as well. I am also trying to teach my son about being kind to others, as well as doing good for people without expecting anything in return.
What can I do for, or get him – that will put a smile on his face, or make his life a little more convenient? Again he has a tent so I think he has somewhere to keep stuff, so I know he can take it back there.
Thanks so much!
Comments
Care package, basic hygiene products, socks, beanie, jacket, gloves, nothing too flashy or valuable though, museli bars too, water bottles maybe?
You can just patch him $20 when you see him. I wouldn’t be giving out my number to random guys whether they live in a tent or not. Let alone as a single parent. He’ll appreciate the money & get what he needs himself and your son can learn kindness with appropriate boundaries.
Maybe some gift cards for Walmart to get some necessities or food places?
I don’t know anything about homeless people. I live in a very rural area and have not really been exposed to any.
If I were homeless and living in a tent, I would like to be able to shower somewhere. So maybe if there is a ymca in walking distance you could pay for a month of that membership. Especially with summer nearing. Maybe that’s free for them anyway. Not sure.
I would like food, so maybe a grocery card.
I would like to be warm when cold out, so maybe a nice blanket you’re not using anyway.
I would like to do laundry occasionally, so maybe some quarters and detergent if a laundromat is in walking distance.
If you’re starting a little bit of talking maybe just wait and you’ll get an idea of what his life is like and what he needs.
I hate to bug the big downer, but please be careful. Some people are just down on their luck, other really do have some serious issues.
You could ask him? He’s the one who knows his setup and day-to-day best, so he’d know better than random people in different parts of the world.
Or if you’re dead set on surprising him, you could ask around locally? Because living rough is going to be different across the world, like how accessible is water, foraging opportunities, how hot/humid the area is, etc.
a bus pass.
Sleeping bag, hand warmers, hygiene bag, a hotel for the night if possible, a cheap phone with minutes, a wagon/trolley, a bike and bike lock possibly, first aid kit, a snack box, gift cards, bus pass, an umbrella
Not good for a single mom to give a guy, but for those who think about donating to a shelter, these people don’t have basic underwear.
The same goes for schools with a lot of low-income kids.
For folks with no money, clothing that isn’t visible is often at the bottom of the list of priorities.
If you want to donate, take some new unopened underwear to a shelter or school.
Ask him. You’d only be wasting your money giving him anything he doesn’t want or need or can’t carry.
That homeless guy was probably like “Wow. This random lady gave me $60 AND her number….I wonder what else i can get out of her…” The next time you go give him something he’ll say let’s go get food sometime then before you know it. You 2 are getting married. Lol. Good luck.
Give him clean old clothes that might fit him.
Some YouTubers hand out practical items like socks, blankets, and shoes. Even useful items like backpacks or duffle bags.
a home.
Waterproof blanket
Comfortable shoes are very important when homeless. When I was homeless my feet got bad and it was a terrible experience. You’d be surprised how much walking homeless people have to do and once the feet are in bad shape life just gets a whole new issue that needs attention along with everything else being faced.
Living in a tent is usually frowned upon by the city so they like to hassle people and make them pack it up and move a lot or they pack everything they own around with them all day so it doesn’t get stolen. If you can’t carry it you have to leave it. Most keep it down to what can be carried in a hiking pack. Some go full shopping cart but either way it’s mostly only necessities. Give him cash unless he has asked for something specific.