[DechanDawa]

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.

[Esmme]

I brought some homeless people some of my turkey from Thanksgiving this year... I didn't just stop after Thanksgiving either.

Most people are literally a paycheck away from being homeless. It can happen to anyone! I went out every two days since Thanksgiving and gave food to the homeless. Some of them didn't want help, but many of them were thankful for the food.

I agree, I don't like it when people suggest, "Help out the homeless on holidays!" I mean, it doesn't hurt to help out, but don't forget about the homeless AFTER the holidays are done. Just because the holidays are over doesn't mean that homeless people stop being homeless.

In SoCal there are soo sooo many homeless people. It's actually very sad. There are so many tents and shopping carts all along the parks and the streets. I wish I could help them all out, but there are way too many homeless people and not enough help for them.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by Esmme

I brought some homeless people some of my turkey from Thanksgiving this year... I didn't just stop after Thanksgiving either.

Most people are literally a paycheck away from being homeless. It can happen to anyone! I went out every two days since Thanksgiving and gave food to the homeless. Some of them didn't want help, but many of them were thankful for the food.

I agree, I don't like it when people suggest, "Help out the homeless on holidays!" I mean, it doesn't hurt to help out, but don't forget about the homeless AFTER the holidays are done. Just because the holidays are over doesn't mean that homeless people stop being homeless.

In SoCal there are soo sooo many homeless people. It's actually very sad. There are so many tents and shopping carts all along the parks and the streets. I wish I could help them all out, but there are way too many homeless people and not enough help for them.

I used to live in San Diego. When I see pictures on YouTube I cannot believe it. I have seen videos of my old neighborhood and where my son went to school. The homeless are lining all the streets next to my son's old school...with tents. I would have really been freaked out had it been like that when I lived there.

I really don't know the solution. Last night I went to my local Starbucks coffee shop. It looked like a satellite homeless shelter! I had to leave. I mean I just went out for coffee and I felt really depressed.

I don't give food to the homeless anymore because I don't really have the money. In my community the use of drugs has been on the rise so I don't have any contact with the homeless. One must be very careful.

It is such a big problem. All I was saying here is that I do not think it should be suggested that to "feel better" one should volunteer to feed the homeless. We really shouldn't do anything for them just to feel better about ourselves.

One thing is....if it is really cold outside...you can maybe buy a cup of coffee and bring it to a homeless purpose who is standing on a freezing corner with their sign. Especially if it is a younger teen homeless person. That's about as far as I would go but frankly I really don't do that anymore because where I live a cup of coffee now costs $3.25!