We woke up early today to help my daddy's work distribute care packages to the homeless at Union Station Homeless Services in Pasadena.
The care packages had toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoos, deodorants, combs, snacks, etc.
Too many times, we take things for granted. The littlest things that we don't think about like daily supplies mean a lot to these people.
It's nice to be able to help even if it's just a little bit. It shows someone in need that we care.
****************************************
Every year, my family donates to a couple of charities. Usually, one local and one international. This year, we donated to the following organizations:Midnight Mission
http://www.midnightmission.org/index.asp
This organization in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles provides several services to the homeless and people in need such as recovery services, educational training, project safe sleep, employment center, and family housing. Their mission statement:
- To offer a bridge to self-sufficiency for homeless
people through counseling, education, training and job placement. - To make available the necessities of life to homeless people: food, shelter, clothing, personal hygiene needs, and medical care.
- To offer the 12-step approach to recovery.
- To serve homeless people with empathy and respect, without sermonizing.
- To provide for the homeless as an independent social service agency.
Picture courtesy of Midnight Mission
Heifer International
http://www.heifer.org/
For over 65 years, this organization helps people obtain a sustainable source of food and income all over the world. My mom and I chose to help buy a goat for a family this year. The gift of a dairy goat can supply a family with up to several quarts of nutritious milk a day - a ton of milk a year. Extra milk can be sold or used to make cheese, butter or yogurt. Families learn to use goat manure to fertilize gardens. Cool huh?
Picture courtesy of Heifer International