Service Learning - Gathering to make Blessing Bags
Monday, Febraury 3, 10:45 a.m.
Warwick Campus - 42 Frederick Street

Hosted by Amanda Campbell
Join us to create blessing bags to hand out to the homeless. It is easier to create these together, and this is a service learning opportunity. My family has been making these kits for many years. We keep a few in our car at all times to hand out when we see someone in need of a little kindness. Homelessness is a huge problem that kids see but have no way of creating great change or resolving for those in need. As a toddler, Willow would ask about the people we saw in our community and would ask if we could buy them a house. I wanted to teach her that we can not always fix the problems we see, but we can always offer help, comfort and kindness. That is what is at the heart of these blessing bags. We will gather together to briefly discuss this topic,

I will read a picture book and then will put together the bags.

Each family should bring multiples of a single item (or 2). We will lay all like items in piles and kids and parents will go around with ziplock bags and collect one of each (ish) item to complete a bag of various items that offer help, comfort and kindness. Each family will bring home multiples of these bags. We encourage you to hand them out as you see people in need. If you are uncomfortable handing them out you are still welcome to participate, donate and make bags and others will simply take more bags. Below you will find a list of ideas of items that would be great in a blessing bag. I will provide the large ziplock bags, a printed brochure of all the shelters, places that offer meals and the local hotline. I usually get a dentist to donate toothbrushes, floss and sometimes toothpaste. We will probably bring some other items too.

Ideas of items to donate: socks, hats, gloves, underwear, tissue, wipes, hand warmers, feet warmers, water bottles, snacks  (granola bars, tuna cracker packs, nuts, items with protein, dried fruit), candy, deodorant, tampons, pads, lotion, powder, chapstick, gum, sunblock, playing cards, band aids, phone cards, sunglasses, umbrella, rain poncho

***In the past our young friends have also made little pieces of art, or written quotes or notes to add to the bags. “They should have something beautiful to look at too” is a quote from 4 year old Sula while making blessing bags. So feel free to have kids of all ages create little pieces of art or inspiration to add to the bags.

Free, all ages.
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