The world needs so much love and light (always!). One way we try to help our community is by creating Manna Bags for the homeless. Manna was the food that miraculously appeared daily for the Israelites when they were in the desert going from Egypt to the Promised Land. In a nutshell, a Manna Bag is a bag of some essential items a person needs for the day. We also try to throw in a personal touch with an encouraging note and some cash. We want to teach our children to think of others. No act of kindness is ever too small!
One of my big hangups as a mom is not doing something because I don’t have everything I need at once. Well, Manna Bags can be made with whatever you think others would find useful! They are gift for others. Think about what would make a homeless person feel valued, seen, and cared for and offer that to them. These ideas below are what we have used, but there are a myriad of ways to care for and give back to homeless through Manna Bags. Again, no gift is too small!
With the holidays coming up, cousins, siblings, or friends creating Manna Bags would be an excellent activity to do at a gathering. This would help get conversations started about how we can help be the change we want to see in the world. Order or buy items ahead of time, so you can set everything with ease!
Items for Manna Bags for the Homeless
- Ziplock Bag for Items or sew your own bag
- Water Bottle or Water Box
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Socks for Men or Socks for Women
- Hand Sanitizer and/or sanitary wipes
- Xylitol gum to aid in preventing cavities
- nuts
- trail mix
- applesauce
- sunflower seeds
- fruit cups
- pretzels
- cheese and peanut butter crackers
- cheez-its
- popcorn
- beef jerky
- pudding cup
- Goldfish crackers
- Fresh Fruit or vegetables or a meal if you plan to drop Manna Bags off soon
Manna Bags Materials for the Homeless
Manna Bags for the homeless is a simple to create and can help provide essentials for the homeless. We purchase all of this in bulk so we make an assembly line. We make anywhere from 6 bags at a time to 20 or so. It depends on what we have on hand and typically ends up with us headed back to the store (or amazon) to get the other items we need.
- A bag: We usually use a gallon ziplock bag. They are waterproof and easy to keep items together in our vehicle to hand to others. Children can decorate the bag with permanent marker if they want too! Permanent marker is the only thing that stays on plastic bags, so if you don’t feel comfortable with your kids doing this, then skip the bag decorating! I have heard that some people sew bags, which is a great idea too.
- Food: We place non-perishable food items in the bag. We try to stick with items that are healthy and not too sticky (like gummies and raisins) to aid in preventing tooth decay, gum disease, and cavities. Here are some go-to ideas (which can all be delivered to your door!):
- nuts, trail mix, applesauce, sunflower seeds, fruit cups, pretzels, cheese and peanut butter crackers, cheez-its, popcorn, beef jerky, pudding cup, goldfish, and fresh fruit if we plan to drop a few bags off soon. Note: If you offer fruit cups or pudding, be sure to also offer a spoon!
- Water: We get a case of water bottles or boxed water and offer one or two per ziplock bag. I know this isn’t great for our environment, but are thankful to be giving out water to people in need. Of course, we encourage the recipient to recycle or throw away what they don’t use.
- Socks: Socks are one of the main items that homeless shelters are in need of. We create bags with socks for men and socks for women. Differentiate the bags with a permanent maker design–or look through the clear bag at the sock design.
- Personal Care items: A toothbrush, floss, and travel toothpaste are necessary! We also try to offer sanitary wipes (biodegradable) and hand sanitizer. For something extra, Xylitol gum with no extra sugar to also help protect against cavities.
- Extras: Throwing in a handmade encouraging card is special. Bonus points if it is written or drawn by a child! Children have a special way of brightening up other people’s days. Writing notes that say things like “You are important!” and “We hope you have a wonderful day!” can go a long way. Or perhaps offer a prayer, quote, etc. Plus, offering some cash is always helpful! For women, you could also throw in nail polish or sanitary napkins.
- Homeless Resources Information: On an index card (or printout) you can offer a list of a few nearby homeless shelters and resources.
Making Manna Bags for the homeless is a wonderful way to have children get involved in giving back to others. These small gestures of kindness go a long way! Warning, once you make these Manna Bags, your kids will want to make them again and again. Giving back to others in this special way makes an impact on the giver and the recipient!
