So...I can give a few dollars to some chartible foundation and trust that probably $.03 of each dollar might actually go to helping somebody/something. OR...I can do something truly helpful for one person.
Last winter, I put together (in a 2-gallon plastic zipper sack) a couple of pairs of sox, a sweatshirt, some thermal long johns, a watch cap, gloves, scarf, a few granola bars, two bottles of water, and a couple of $1 bills, and kept it in my car. Without taking any foolish chances, of course, when I saw someone obviously homeless during the day who was alone and in an open area, I pulled over, handed it to him and wished him a good day.
This year, I started gathering things here and there as I could afford them. Included sweats, long johns, sox, cap, scarf, gloves, a flannel shirt, a rain poncho, and found a men's travel kit that was intended to pass muster with TSA that had a couple of razors, travel size shaving cream, shampoo, deodorant, a toothbrush and toothpaste, soap. Also put in some granola bars and $2. Got a waterproof backpack with pockets on the outside meant for water bottles from Walmart cheap. Stuffed the backpack, added the water bottles to the outside pockets.
On Christmas Eve day, I was going down to visit my son. Between home and his place there are a couple of parks where the homeless hang out during the day (because they're required to leave the shelters first thing in the morning and can't go back until evening). I knew there would be at least one person to give that backpack to so stopped at Subway to get a foot-long with plenty of meat, cheese and veggies to go with it. Sure enough, the right guy was trudging along the sidewalk near one of the parks, and I was close to a curb cut for a business that wasn't open, so I pulled in and whistled him over...a bit nervous because he had something clutched in his hand but otherwise had nothing except a heavy jacket that he was carrying. I handed him the backpack and the sandwich, and he thanked me and started crying. Dear me. He showed me what he had in his hand...a rosary that he said had been his mother's. He said he'd been praying for something to eat and never thought he'd get a Christmas present as well. He told me I made his day. No. He made mine.
All told, it probably cost about $50 over a period of a couple of months, but it ALL went to help one very grateful old man.
We can't save everyone, but we can each do something to help one person at a time. I've already started gathering things for the next backpack. It will be for a man again, though, because while there are homeless women they stay pretty well hidden.
ETA: sometimes I see a homeless person with a dog. I'm going to keep some dog food in the car, too.
