Tag Archives: Hope for the Homeless

Thanks so much for coming back to check in!

November is right around the corner…and you know what that means…colder weather, Thanksgiving, family-time, Christmas, winter…but we’re not there just yet…

November 16 kicks off National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (check out the National Coalition for the Homeless website for more info (http://www.nationalhomeless.org/projects/awareness/index.html)…and that means the Dream Center is preparing for our annual Hope for the Homeless event.

As in years past, we’re handing out 300 backpacks filled with winter necessities to the homeless to help them prepare for the upcoming winter.   Passing out backpacks has become one of my most favorite traditions, and I am so proud of the team for faithfully raising funds, filling backpacks, and handing them out year after year.

If you have a chance, take a look at this video from a couple of years ago:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_fWbJuPr5k   On that day we passed out backpacks then blessed the ladies with makeovers 🙂

It really brings things into perspective for me, working with folks who have no more than what they can carry in their backpack everyday…even for those that are sleeping in shelters, most need to load all their belongings up into the backpack when they are forced out in the morning and need to carry everything they own with them all day until they can find some rest back at the shelter later that night.

We relish the opportunity to bless them with a brand new backpack filled with things that you and I often take for granted.  This year, we expect to stuff the backpacks with the following:

• Socks
• Hat
• Gloves
• Scarf
• Blanket
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Lotion
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Soap
• Deodorant
• Razor
• Shaving cream
• Comb
• Nail clipper
• Bible
• Kleenex
• Toilet tissue
• Umbrella
• First aid kits
• Lip balm
• Cocoa packets
• Instant soup
• Hairbrush
• Towel Powder/foot powder
• Facecloth
• Peanut butter crackers
• Oatmeal Packet
• Pocket warmers
• Cough drops

Yeah, it’s a lot…but this might be the only gift some of these individuals gets this year…and if we can help one person survive another cold RI Winter then we are going to do EVERYTHING in our power to do so.

So, if there is anything you can do to help, it would be greatly appreciated.

You might find a great deal on hand warmers and tooth brushes, or you might want to donate to the cause…whatever you can do to help would be greatly appreciated.  Every little bit helps – your gift might be that gift that helps someone.

Here’s how you can get involved…

• buy supplies and drop them off at our office at 330 Park Ave. in Cranston
• send us a check made payable to the RI Dream Center and drop it in the mail
• donate electronically through the PayPal link on our website:  http://ridreamcenter.com/index.php/donors/

We have one more unique opportunity as well.  We are having a walk-a-thon to help raise awareness and will be selling sponsorships that will be displayed on the team’s RIDC t-shirts.  For a gift of $50, we will list your business name on the t-shirt announcing your sponsorship of this great event.

Every little bit helps…  We really appreciate any donations you can help us with.

Thanks so much for checking in today – be sure to check in soon for future posts to the Dream Center Diary!

We’d love to hear from you:

• online: http://www.ridreamcenter.com/
• phone: 401-396-2743
• email the Dream Center: ridreamcenter@gmail.com
• email the Dream Center blog: ridreamcenterblog@gmail.com

Posted by Rhode Island Dream Center in Backpack Giveaway Tags: Backpack, Cranston Rhode Island, Dream Center, Homeless, homeless website, Homelessness, homelessness awareness, Hope for the Homeless, National Coalition for the Homeless, National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, NCF, Park Ave., PayPal, toilet tissues