Tips from a homeless woman about what to consider donating to homeless people if you intend to:
-socks. This is a huge thing socks get worn down SO FAST especially if you’re someone like me who lives in an area where it rains a lot and don’t have public transportation or a car. Thick and wooly ones are great.
- period supplies for women. Seriously. There have been several times where I’ve had to ball up almost an entire roll of TP to use in lieu of a pad, and I have incredibly heavy periods so it’s even more embarrassing when I realize period blood has been dripping down my thighs.
- portable phone chargers. Not all homeless people are also phone-less, especially when there are programs to give low-income/homeless people cellphones. This can be an absolute life saver, as we are constantly vulnerable and also because it’s usually our only reliable line of communication with potential employers/friends/family.
-baby powder. This goes especially for people like me to have to rely on walking everywhere. Especially as summer is hitting, it’s not uncommon to get thighs chaffed so bad that you actually develop heat blisters and sores. Baby powder greatly reduces this.
-rain gear. I’ve had to fashion rain gear out of trash bags and although it’s effective for some time, they tear easily and also aren’t easy to make actually water proof. Buying one of those cheap plastic raincoats with hoods is so so useful.
-baby wipes. A lot of us don’t have access to a shower regularly and also get incredibly dirty because we’re outside a lot. Being able to at least wipe ourselves down with baby wipes at the end of the day or if we get particularly dirty really helps with piece of mind and also feels more humanizing than not having them.
-first aid kits. This might seem obvious but most people don’t think about these as potential donations. For people who don’t have insurance or a way to get quick help, these can be life savers.
-toothbrushes and toothpaste. I see this on a lot of lists about donating to the homeless, but it’s super important. Not only is hygiene going to be a big factor in being able to get a job, but the vast majority of us have nothing resembling insurance and if we can’t take care of our teeth it can literally be a death sentence if we develop an abscess in our gums or jaw. Dental care is expensive, and so having these helps us prevent future problems.
Homeless people, like any other demographic, are not a monolith and are going to vary in terms of resources available to us, having transportation or not, having a phone or not, hell even having decent clothes or not. If anyone wants to ask me any questions feel free to ask