One thing that bothers me is articles that say to volunteer at a soup kitchen on Christmas if you are alone.

First of all, why do they call it a soup kitchen? That's a phrase left over from the Great Depression. It is even somewhat patronizing. I literally hate when that phrase is used. Mostly the homeless are fed through church communities or other programs. I wish they would just give these dinners a new name like "community dinners," or something instead of saying soup kitchens.

I worked with the homeless for years and I can say they pretty much hated these events and there was a lot of drinking and drugging beforehand to fortify themselves. As well they didn't like to linger because they didn't like that they couldn't drink while eating.

Ideally the homeless liked it when food was left for them on tables at a local park. I used to make and leave green chili and corn bread. But I don't think that is allowed any more in my town.

The worst thing of all is when the community dinner is over and the prayers are said and everyone has to head back out in the cold. So to help out in a "soup kitchen" on the holiday is kind of a mythical good deed. Homelessness is...one of the worst atrocities in the civilized world. The suffering of the homeless is beyond imagination. It is a dangerous and bleak world on the street and serving a meal in a so-called soup kitchen on a holiday to feel better because one is "alone" is kind of a sick joke.

I honestly don't know what would help. I think maybe donating a bike with a bike trailer to a homeless person would be a very good deed if you could afford it.