Giving: Grocery Store Gift Cards

Constantly I get compliments, raves, and many questions about what would be appropriate for someone to give to a family that's homeless.
The one I recommend constantly to people wanting to lend a hand to a family experiencing homelessness are Gift Cards from stores that are within walking distance to where homeless families are found.

The one in particular is from Winn-Dixie, a local grocer used by other families like mine near the shelter we stayed at. They come in $10, $20, $25, $50 and $100 denominations.

These are extremely ideal! When a person with kids gets one of these, their able to immediately make choices based on what they KNOW their child needs. While it's nice to provide a product to someone, not everyone needs the same thing. Sometimes perfumes from some diapers can have bad effects on children with allergies. By giving a gift card a person is giving some empowerment over another person's immediate problem.

Food: you don't know about allergies the kids have. Toiletries: it's really too personal to make a decision for someone else when it comes to maxi pads, isn't it?

Play it safe...for the recipient getting what they know they need, and you knowing your helping someone until they can help themselves.

Is this meant as a message for people to go out in masses and drown the homeless parents out there with cards? No, but it's just a perspective people should realize if they make the decision to be directly involved with someone they don't know, in a very difficult period in their life possibly.

Thanks for reading. If you have any questions about interacting or helping homeless families, I'd be happy to give you an honest perspective based on being there...and having gotten successfully out to help others there still.