Even if you are staying in a shelter or other temporary housing situation, homelessness is tough. Daily survival is often one’s top concern.
CAREbags provide daily necessities for people experiencing homelessness.
We know that compassion combined with action will end homelessness. We need everyone to CARE (click here to see what we mean):
C – Contribute (food drives, money, etc.,)
A – Advocate
R – Reach Out (volunteering)
E – Educate
Many concerned community members provide CAREbags, as a means to help unhoused folks meet their daily needs. CAREbags often include toiletries, clothing items, food, or other survival items. Below are listed items for CAREbags that have been suggested by people who have experienced homelessness.
Click here to purchase some of these items from our Amazon Wish List.
Clothing items:
- Socks, socks, socks!
- Warm hats and gloves
- Bandanas
- Thermal blanket
- Underwear
- Warm or Weighted Blanket
- Long underwear
Hygiene or Personal Care items:
- Dry shampoo
- Toothpaste and toothbrush, Dental floss
- Adult Washcloth Wipes, Flushable wipes, Baby wipes
- Hand sanitizer, sanitizer spray, sanitizer wipes
- Feminine hygiene products (pads, panty-liners, tampons, period underwear)
- Hand warmers
- Soap **Please separate food from soap. Snacks tastes like soap.**
- Cloth/semi-cloth bandaids (instead of the plastic ones)
- Neosporin/antibiotic ointment
- Advil/Ibuprofen/Tylenol/Aleve
- Chapstick
- Nail clippers
- Face Masks
- Hydrocortisone for bug bites
- Tissues
- Deodorant
- Disposable razor
- Q-tips
- Condoms (non-latex)
- Clear eyes
- Invitation to a shower
- Mirror/compact and lip gloss
- Vaseline or Carmex
- Vicks VapoRub
- Moisturizer
- Cough drops
- Old fashioned hot water bottles
Food items:
- Instant coffee packs
- Water
- Plastic spoon/knife/fork, travel cutlery
- Vitamin C, D/Multivitamin
- Treats: Hershey bar, candy, can of soda, gum
- Ready to eat food containers (e.g. pouches of tuna with crackers)
- Be sure food is non-perishable
- Consider special diets (allergies or diabetes)
Other gear (many for outdoor encampments):
- Rape whistle
- Solar chargers, phone chargers, power bank, USB charging cables
- Emergency ponchos
- Candle, matches
- Batteries
- Sandwich bags
- Multi-tool, pliers, cutters, can and bottle opener, screw drivers, etc.
- Tarps
- Radio
- Portable camp shower
- Small camp stove
- TravelJohn portable urinals or disposable urinals
- Wheelbarrow
Other items requested (we are all humans :-):
- Mostly give love!
- Cash
- Giftcards, coffee cards (especially to stores with public restrooms)
- Pen & note pad, sharpies
- A personal note of encouragement. I got one once and it made me cry happy tears
- A dinner invitation
- List of local resources (especially ones you have vetted, or that are guaranteed)
- Something inspirational to read, a good book
- Invite to public meeting on homelessness
- Shoe box full of 100 dollar bills
- Lottery tickets!??
- A kind word or inflatable hug?
- Kittens!
