JESUS LOVES YOU!

 

Often when I had some cash, I would visit a Mcdonalds and order something from the value-meal menu such as a one-dollar double cheeseburger or a hot & spicy Mcchicken sandwich along with a 49 cents or 59 cents senior coffee. Or I'd visit Burger King and get a whopper Jr. or two, off of their dollar value-meal menu. Sometimes I only had enough for a Sr. coffee. This year I had failed to do what I had done last year just before I became homeless and that was to get myself food gift cards from Mcdonalds and  Burger King before running out of money. I knew I was going to be homeless, so I had planned ahead.

 

When I took a break from the redundancy of the soup kitchen's slop, these inexpensive meals took the edge off of unpleasant 1940's era meals on the streets at local slop houses.

 

Mcdonalds' food gift cards are called Arch cards. Burger King's is called the BK Crown card.

 

KFC has snackers for a buck as well as other fast-food chains offer dollar value-meal menus. These inexpensive meals can bring a bright spot to the hearts of those living a gloomy day. It is not uncommon to see someone (called feeders) go to these fast-food chains and purchase bags full of these inexpensive meals and pass them out directly to the homeless.

 

If you have thought about wanting to help some homeless soul in your area, and not knowing what to do, or being afraid of being taken advantage of, instead of giving money to the homeless, consider handing out these food cards. They can be loaded with $5, $10, $25 or whatever you desire. Simply hand the cards to a homeless person of your choice and tell them how much is on the card, in dollar amounts. Advise them to select from the value-meal menu in order to make the food card last longer, offering them more meals when needed.

 

Often times, homeless people who are truly trying to help themselves off the streets by searching for work miss the scheduled meals offered at local soup kitchens which generally only offer meals during a one-hour period any given day.

 

Folks, there will always be cheaters and fakes in our society. While the Lord guides us toward righteousness, Satin is right there too, trying to pull us down. The serpent was right there in the beginning, in the Garden of Eden. There are many instances where some homeless people abuse the gifts given by those who care. A homeless subject could sell these food cards to convert them into cash for substances other than food. Don't get hung up on these things. Don't let Satin and his disciples prevent you from caring and giving to the needy because a few serpents take advantage of your kindness. There will always be rotten apples in the barrel and society punishes the rest of the barrel of good fruit because of those few evil ones. Or so it seems.

 

Many retail shopping stores offer gift cards today. Wal-Mart and several others including grocery stores. Clothing, food and hygiene products and anything else imaginable could be purchased with these gift cards. These gift cards offer an opportunity for small groups or individuals to help select, small groups or individual homeless people in your own area. However, unfortunately these types of cards I don't believe prohibit the purchase of alcohol and could be subject to abuse or used for reasons other than you may have intended them to be used as.

 

Among the most needed products on the streets are socks. Clean socks to change into are imperative since homeless people often go for days without being able to remove their shoes. Socks can be purchased relatively cheaply at most discount retail stores. Passing out pairs or packages of socks will almost be as welcomed by homeless people as food. Sometimes more so.

 

T-shirts are another thing as well as underwear which is much needed. There is nothing that feels better than being able to change into a clean, fresh change of underclothes and socks and then going to Mcdonalds or Burger King for an inexpensive meal. And certainly then the homeless person that you helped knows that there is someone out there who really does cares about them.

 

Even without the ability to bathe, a fresh change of cloths along with deodorant, body lotions, cologne, toothpaste, shaving accessories and such can make a huge difference in feeling better and being presentable.

 

Travel-size hygiene products found in most pharmacies and discount retail stores, food cards, t-shirts, underwear and socks are among the most needed items of the homeless. All of which can take the edge off of being in a world of forgotten people.

 

This is just one small idea for a very complex and large social problem--homelessness.

These suggestions will not solve homelessness, but they will take the edge off someone's walk along the dark side of life.

 

Sunday, 20 April 2008

River

Las Vegas, Nevada