Making blessing bags for homeless people is a nice addition to your Thanksgiving holiday. We all know Thanksgiving should be much more than turkey, football and family close-encounters. An approach based on Christian mindfulness turns the day into a celebration of gratitude and a chance to help others.
Blessing bags can be in your car or your bag (if you take a train or bus around town) all year. When you see a homeless person asking for money, you can ask them if they would like the bag.
Use a see-through container – either a large ZipLock bag or a see-through plastic bag. Then fill it with items to feed and help the homeless, such as:
- Warm socks
- Gloves
- Hat
- Face masks
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Beef jerky
- Trail mix
- Granola bars
- Peanut butter crackers
- Mints
- Lip balm
- A washcloth
- Hand sanitizer
- Single-dose packs of pain reliever
- Band-Aids
- Comb and brush
- Bottled water
- Hand warmers
- Deodorant
- Soap
- Shampoo
- Tampons for women
- Fast food restaurant gift cards
- A few dollars
- A note of blessing (You can buy a pack of blessing notes at Hobby Lobby.)
If you keep a place in your home for blessing bag materials, you can put packages you get at the dentist and other freebies in the bag. Assembling these bags can make a great Thanksgiving activity for kids and other family members.
Other aspects of a mindful Christian Thanksgiving can include:
- Send thank you cards to people who have made your life better this year.
- Create a gratitude pumpkin for your table.
- Spend time writing down your blessings.
- Thank God for answered prayers.