This is a cross-post from 12for12k.
Today sees the launch of the 12 Days of Christmas Homeless Push. As we’ve mentioned in the run-up, this isn’t about cash donations this month (although if you wish to donate money to your local homeless shelter or organization, please do).
Instead, 12for12k wants you to think of ways that you can physically help. To this end, and with the help of Mark Horvath and various homeless organizations, we’ve come up with these 12 suggestions for you. Themed around the 12 Days of Christmas, this is the 12for12k version – the 12 Days of Christmas Homeless Push.
It’s up to you which ones you choose, although obviously choosing all 12 will make the biggest impact. And whatever you decide to do, record it. Photographs, videos, blogs, social networks – your choice. Sharing can only make more people aware, and encourage more help – and that’s always a good thing. And 12for12k will share your stories on our community, so please consider joining if you haven’t already.
So… on with the 12 suggestions.
- Day 1. Contact your local homeless shelter(s) and ask what they need. Make a list and work from there.
- Day 2. Gather 10 friends each (family, friends, colleagues) in preparation for Helping Day.
- Day 3. Challenge these friends to a bake-off. Bake a bunch of homemade goodness – soup, stews, cookies, etc – ready for Helping Day.
- Day 4. Clean out your closet (especially your husband’s, 12for12k wives!), and pack up all the old clothes that you find. Coats, socks, underwear, shoes, jeans – anything and everything.
- Day 5. Go through your linen closet and think of what blankets, sleeping bags, duvets, etc, that you no longer need.
- Day 6. Check your pantry – do you really need all these tins of soup or canned stew? Collect and store.
- Day 7. Invite a homeless person for coffee. Go to a Starbucks or McDonald’s, buy a combo, sit and talk. Get to know the person behind the story.
- Day 8. Go grocery shopping. Find 2-for-1 deals and buy what you can afford. Save the second item for Helping Day.
- Day 9. Kids are homeless too. Collect all your childrens’ unwanted toys and box up. This includes books as well.
- Day 10. Go to your local fast food/coffee house and buy a bunch of gift cards ready for handing out.
- Day 11. This one’s an easy one – share with your networks what’s happening and get them involved.
- Day 12. This is Helping Day. Go to a shelter, take everything you and your friends/family have collected, and help. One hour; six hours; all day – it doesn’t matter. Help – serve food; give out packages; talk to people; befriend someone. Simply put – be human to another human being.
This isn’t an exhaustive list; it’s simply suggestions. Please, feel free to leave other suggestions in the comments, or join our community and let us know what you’re doing. And make sure you follow 12for12k on Twitter for all the latest updates on what everyone is doing.
Christmas is a time for giving; let’s give to those that need it the most. Thank you.
Enjoy this post? You might also like:
- The Kindergarten Approach to Social Media
- The 12 Days of Christmas Homeless Push
- Want To Help The Sick Children Hospital Canada?
More from across the web:
- 10 Ways To Increase Traffic To Your Blog (Brandon Hann)
This is such a great idea!
I live in Newcastle Upon Tyne in the UK, and there seems to be a few homeless people around the city. Ive often stopped and spoke to them, mainly because most people seem to be afraid of them. Most of them seem to be very friendly and definately not like the image people have of them.
As I was on my way home, I seen a homeless man and handed him the food I just bought. My reason for doing so was that he could probably appreicate it alot more than myself, and I could of just got something to eat when I got in.
I hope more people start to think of others first, there is no better feeling than to make someone else happy.
I spent many a time in Newcastle when I lived in the U.K., awesome city with amazingly great people – which you just reinforced, Craig.
It’s true – often just stopping and getting to know someone can make all the difference in the world.
Very well laid out… Terrific! I so hope everyone gets on board!
Ct Kingston´s most recent blog post …Top 13 One-Night Stands of 2009
oh really? Small world!
Its changed alot now, alot of new business parks and entertainment places.
Yep, was there quite a bit as a young 20-something when my mate went to Uni there, used to go to the Riverside most weekends – happy days
That must be a wonderful thing i have heard of.
My children and I are homeless, and we are not going to have any kind of Christmas this year.
I would like to ask that people pray for us, and that they make a donation to a local homeless shelter or give a little time to one this year. There are so many people out here like us that need help.
It’s not just men who are living on the streets and in motel rooms and shelters. There are many families like mine who have lost jobs or fallen victim to the economy and who have nowhere to go.
I am fighting desperately to get us out of this situation, but just buying food and paying for necessities takes everything I make.
So please, do what you can to help people in your area. There are so many who need help right now. Many are even far worse than my own family.