Help for the Homeless

WARNING: I am sick, and I am tired. I apologize now for any stupid typos in this. :)

My husband recently stepped into the role of Director of a program that is the central entry point for homeless services in our area. It's the perfect job for him--he'd been itching to get involved in the fight against homelessness ever since we left St. Louis.
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​Sadly, the simple truth is that there are more homeless people than there are services for them. I imagine the hardest part of Adam's job is turning people away when they have no place for them to go.  One thing he can do is give them the necessary supplies to make their lives a little easier while they're taking their next steps toward something better.

​This is where I need your help. I'm pulling together food and hygiene packs for One Door to hand out to clients who come through their doors. Some of the hygiene packs will be geared toward men, some towards women. Everything is intended to fit into an easy-to-carry bag.

​For anyone willing and able to pitch in, we could use the following - either individually, or pre-made into packs:

Food packs

Hygiene Packs

• Water bottles
• Granola or protein bars
• ​Snack crackers (cheese or peanut  butter)
• Little cans of ravioli
• Boxes of raisins
• Small packages of cookies
• ​Beef jerky

Travel size is best for pretty much all of the below!

• Soap
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Deodorant
• Kleenex packs
• Hand & face wipes
• Feminine wipes
• Feminine hygiene products
• Combs
• Chapstick​

Your packs don't have to include all of these items and feel free to include others that make sense. Just think to yourself: If I had to carry everything I owned in a gallon Ziploc bag this winter, what would I really want to have with me? Big or cumbersome things get left behind. ideal items are small and easily portable.

For those who live close enough for me to collect the packs or donations, I am happy to do so. Just shoot me an email and we can figure something out. Donations can also be mailed directly to One Door at the address in bold below.

​Don't have time to make packs or have a way to ship them? For those who would prefer to donate money, you can send checks directly to One Door at 300 East Central, Springfield, MO 65802. If you want your money to go to a specific cause, note it in the memo field. (For example: food packs, hygiene packs, gas fund, hotel fund...)
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​Thank you so, so much to all who've already said they want to help! I appreciate it so incredibly much!