7 items to put in care bags

About 5 years ago I started a tradition of giving back by packing care bags for people who experience homelessness in Portland, ME. My dad and I pack up his car with all the care bags around Thanksgiving time, and he drives around Portland while I hand out the bags.

We have yet to encounter anyone not incredibly grateful for what we hand out. And every time we finish, we wish we had more goodie bags and respecting people who survive out in the cold.

Anyone can do this! It takes me 3 hours tops to shop, pack the care bags, and hand them out. You can also keep the bags in your car and hand them out whenever you see a homeless person. It doesn’t have to be a one-day event like how I’ve done it.

Here are some accessible items you can include in your care bags:

1. Handwarmers

During this time of year, handwarmers make great gifts because people can instantly open them and get heat. Handwarmers don’t go bad, so anyone can keep them for an even colder day if they’d like. And people can easily toss the warmers when they’re finished radiating warmth.

2. Hearty Snacks

Trail mix and granola bars are good options because both have long shelf lives, are filling, and hearty. I usually pack bars with nuts and dried fruits and oats, as these are satiating but not as expensive as Luna bars or Builder Bars.

3. Long-Lasting Fruits

Apples, oranges, and clementines make for great care bag foods because they contain fiber, stay good for a while, travel well, and – aside from peeling the oranges and clementines and throwing out apple cores – don’t go bad.

4. Drinks

I always put in a bottle of water in my care bags. Gatorade, Powerade, and electrolyte drinks work fine, but if you’re looking for the most affordable option, choose water. After all, everyone needs to drink clean water.

5. Sweets

I add individually-wrapped candy to the care bags to bring smiles to people’s faces. Adults love candy just as much as kids do. People get so excited when they see a pack of gushers in their bag, or a lollipop. Any individually-wrapped candy is a good option.

6. Snacks

A bag of chips or popcorn is another good food to add to the care bags. Not only do they stay fresh, but they also have calories to help satiate people. And it gives people something salty to counter all the sweets in the bag.

7. Non-Perishables

In general, I like to include non-perishables like hot cocoa packets, instant coffee packets, electrolyte packs for the water provided, gum, flossers, mints, tampons, and pads. The main thing I focus on is anything individually wrapped item that won’t go bad, fruit that won’t get smooshed, or food you don’t need utensils for.

This may seem like a lot to buy and give away, but doing so makes me feel like a contributing human. As a disabled person who cannot work, I often feel like a burden to society. But creating care bags give me purpose. It gives me the sense of accomplishment others normally feel while at work, or home raising a family – none of which I can partake in.

Nobody wants to stand in cold the streets. So this is one way I give back and make myself purposeful. 

Every person I encounter makes me feel like a hero. People who experience homelessness run to our car,  hoping for something. And when they see the care bags, they all smile and cheer and call their friends over to join the party. And there’s never any competition between them; usually, one person  makes sure everyone gets what they need. Then, they thank me profusely and bless me.

An insignificant gift to me is survival for others. You see pure souls when you give to those less fortunate.