Blessing Bags for the Homeless- Foot Care

Sharing is caring!

Originally published November 10, 2017 and updated August 27, 2020.

As a veteran, I know how important foot care is. Creating blessing bags for the homeless for foot care is a gift that will be truly appreciated.

When you’re homeless, foot care becomes both more complicated and more critical. Socks are seldom donated items and yet much needed. You can make these homeless care packages with your family, including young children, or with a group. 

I’ve worked with people experiencing homelessness for years. Knowing what is most helpful allows you to create blessing bags that will truly be a blessing.

When you’re homeless having warm, comfortable feet is a luxury. Their socks and shoes are often worn out, ill-fitting and not of the best quality. That’s a very uncomfortable combination.

Socks and foot care items are rarely donated and so they are often hard to come by for the homeless. I worked at a charitable service for those experiencing homelessness and financial hardship and I saw first-hand that socks (and underwear) are rarely donated.

I can’t stress strongly enough how valuable your donation of a foot care blessing bag will be.

Blessing Bags for the Homeless – Foot Care

I find it best to place the homeless care package items in a plastic seal top bag. It keeps everything clean and safely contained. It can also be later used for other purposes. 

We set up stations with one type of item at each station. Each person takes a seal top bag and “trick or treats” through each station, taking an item and placing it their bag. Young children love “trick or treating” and filling their bag with items. Simply have an adult check each bag to make sure that all the items are included. 

Blessing Bag Content Ideas

• Thick Socks
  • Keeping feet warm during the winter and cushioned in older or ill-fitting shoes makes a world of difference.
• Colorful Socks
  • Who doesn’t need a little happy color in their life?
• Thin Socks
  • These are great for layering under thicker socks in cold weather.
• Moleskin
  • This helps cushion skin from shoes that rub.
• Bandages
• Nail Clipper Set
• Foot Warmers
• Foot Powder
• Wet Wipes
• Note from you

Consider purchasing socks in different sizes. Be sure to mark the outside of the plastic bags with the sock sizes.

I encourage you to purposefully create foot care blessing bags in a variety of sock sizes. While you may take socks that you fit you properly for granted, many people experiencing homelessness treasure socks that fit well. It can be a true blessing.

The purpose of creating blessing bags is make a connection with a person and let them know that you care. Be sure to add a personal note to each and every bag. Having children draw a picture or write a heart-felt note is a beautiful encouragement. You can also print out these notes and add them to your blessing bags for the homeless. 

Additional Items to Include

• Hard Candy
• Granola or Protein Bars
• Water Bottle
• Dried Fruit or Veggies
• Toothbrush & Toothpaste
• Lip Balm
• Soap
• Moisturizer
• Cash or Gift Card to local restaurant in the amount of approximately $5 to $10.
  • This allows the recipient to choose their own meal and drink, to have access to a warm or air conditioned chair and table and access to the bathroom to wash up or use.

You can donate these blessing bags to your local homeless shelter or food bank. You can also carry several in your car so that you’re ready to help anyone you may run into where ever you go. 

More ideas of where to donate your blessing bags (always call first and see if the organization can accept them):

• Homeless shelter
• Women and Family shelters
• Church with community outreach programs
• Elementary, junior high and high school counselors
• Veterans’ groups
• Hospitals
• Foster Care
• Boys & Girls Club

These blessing bags for the homeless for foot care will be greatly appreciated.  They’re a wonderful way to help your community.

For all my favorite purposeful acts of kindness ideas check out the table below. You can scroll though the table and look for ideas or search for specific ideas with the magnifying glass in the upper right-hand corner (on desktop). Click on the topic and then click through the specific article.