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How to Make “Blessing Bags” For Those in Need

BySally Kuzemchak, MS, RDN Published: Updated on
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Blessing Bags are a simple way to help others all year long–and involve your kids in a service project from home.

A display of items you can put into blessing bags for homeless people, including socks, granola bars, mints, toothbrush and toothpaste, applesauce, lip balm, crackers, and a first-aid kid with Advil, bandages, and antibiotic ointment.
Here are some of the items you can put into Blessing Bags for homeless people and others in need.

This has been a tough year for so many.

More people than ever are needing assistance. Food pantries have mile-long lines. And as I’m driving around, I’ve noticed more and more folks asking for help, on street corners and at the end of exit ramps.

If you’ve noticed this too and feel unsure about how to help, consider making Blessing Bags.

Blessing Bags, also known as Necessity Bags or Care Kits, include a variety of items for people who are homeless, hungry, and in need of basic necessities. You can keep these bags in your car to offer when you see someone asking for help.

This is also a good way to involve your kids in a service project right from home.

What should you put in a Blessing Bag?

Using this guide, here’s what I bought for mine:

  • Socks
  • Toothbrush + Toothpaste
  • Peanut butter crackers
  • Applesauce
  • Granola bar
  • Mints
  • Lip balm
  • First-aid kit with single-dose packs of Advil, band-aids, and antibiotic ointment (I used leftover, washed out pill bottles to hold them)
  • Gallon-sized zip-top bags to hold everything

Here are some ideas for other items to include:

  • Pads + tampons
  • Washcloth or face/body wipes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Face masks
  • Bottled water
  • Dental floss
  • Comb/brush
  • Plastic spoon/fork
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Deodorant
  • Sunscreen
  • Hat and gloves
  • Hand/foot warmers
A box of blessing bags for homeless people.
You can keep a box of Blessing Bags in your car.

How to make Blessing Bags

Set everything out on a table and form an assembly line. Then stock your car(s) with them. I keep a few in the center console and the driver’s side door, so they’re easy to quickly reach, and I keep a box of them in the trunk to refill.

How to give Blessing Bags

Always ask someone first if they’d like a bag. (Maybe it goes without saying, but please don’t toss it out your car window at anyone.)

I usually ask, “Would you like a bag with some food and supplies?” Nobody has ever turned me down.

Where to buy items for your Blessing Bags

Warehouse stores like Costco are a perfect place to buy items in bulk. I also created a Blessing Bags Amazon List of the items I purchased for mine (I receive a tiny commission when you purchase, but I wanted to make it convenient and couldn’t figure out another way to put it all in one place to make it easy!).

Other ways to help those in need

Check out other posts on Real Mom Nutrition for ways to help in your own community:

Check out this post from my friends at Salt Effect for more way to give back: 117 Ideas For Volunteering With Your Family

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