Q&A for How to Help Feed the Homeless

Try giving them packaged goods like granola bars, chips, pretzels, and packaged vegetables and fruit (such as fruit cups). These foods will not harm them and will not spoil soon. Remember to include utensils if you give them fruit cups or packaged vegetables.

Yes, but take someone with you for safety reasons. And if you're a kid/teen, make sure you get your parent's permission and take an adult with you.

The Salvation Army, Haitian American Food Bank or the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

If you’re handing these out to individuals, try packed lunches! Some ideas for what to include are: fruit, sandwiches, snack bars, trail mix, etc. All of these things are cheap and easy to prepare. Try to avoid excess packaging!

Contact a local homeless shelter and see how many people are in residence at the shelter. Homeless shelters should also have a program where volunteers can serve meals. This may be a bit easier for you than buying the meals yourself.

You will need to focus on community networking. Look at organizations in neighboring areas which feed the homeless, and non-profits without that focus in your own area who may be interested in partnering with your efforts. Much of the fundraising required for this endeavor may be mitigated when allying yourself with other organizations with established resources.

Generally speaking, homeless people tend to live in densely populated areas such as cities and large towns. However, homelessness can be found everywhere, and you can help in any of these areas.

Many homeless people have an addiction of some sort. If you give money to someone who is addicted to something, then it becomes difficult for them to resist spending it on the addictive substances, like alcohol, cigarettes, etc. If they spent the money on alcohol or cigarettes, then they would continue to be stuck in a rut of homelessness. If you gave them food or some other item instead of money, then they would not be tempted to spend it on an addiction. This way, they can receive support to manage and potentially escape from poverty, without sinking deeper into poverty by spending too much money on addictions.

Start a club to spread awareness about homeless issues. Propose an assembly to highlight food insecurity amongst homeless populations. Start a school-run fundraiser like a bake sale.