Cause: Loving the homeless by going to them & giving out Christmas gift bags with supplies.  

Website: https://bagsofhope.home.blog/

"Bags of Hope" was started in December 2021 as a desire to do something helpful for the unhoused population who live in our streets. We desire not only to help with material needs, but also to share God's love & hope with them. So we began an annual Christmas gift bag distribution every December to bring them a little bit of Christmas & care. All the supplies come from donations - both monetary gifts to purchase items as well as preowned items you'd like to part with. It's thanks to many caring people like you who help with prayers, financial gifts, & donated items that we've been blessed each year to collect & purchase these essential provisions to be a help to those in need. We were able the 1st year to pass out 20 gift bags. In 2022, we were able to increase it to 30 bags. Then in 2023, we increased again to 31 bags. In 2024, we amazingly saw God provide an abundant financial blessing, allowing us to increase our amount to 60 bags!! Many people we meet each year allow us pray with them, & some even ok us to share their prayer needs on our website so you can read & pray over them too. We've also had opportunities each year to share the gospel, so please pray for opened & softened hearts.  

Here's basically what happens. On the day of distribution, we all meet up at a starting place & drive around to several areas where homeless individuals reside, spend time, or are often seen holding signs. We take several vehicles filled with the bags & other supplies & every year, those we meet tell us where to find more homeless people so we go there. We've never had trouble finding enough people.

The bags are filled with many essentials that can be especially hard for them to come by, specifically during the winter: such as warm hats & gloves, good quality socks (*the most requested item*), hygiene items like toothbrush & toothpaste, deodorant, razors & shaving cream, nail clippers, lotion, chapstick, etc. We usually include a few cans of food & some snacks. They get a reusable water bottle, a flashlight, a rain poncho, & an emergency blanket that holds in body heat. We also collect bigger items like blankets/sleeping bags & coats for them to choose from, along with shoes (very needed), scarves, backpacks & other luggage. Luggage with wheels is especially helpful since they often have their possessions stolen if not taken with them when leaving their campsite. We also include a small Bible, a tract, and a personal handwritten Christmas card in each bag. People have told us the handwritten card means a lot, as well as the small wrapped gift we give each person so they have something to unwrap (a chocolate Christmas candy). We buy several pizzas to have fresh food available, since some have reported going days without eating at the time we meet them. 

Every year, God provides above and beyond to meet needs. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. This is an opportunity to play a part in something bigger than just providing help with a few physical needs, but also in sharing God & his grace and care for those who may feel hopeless -- thus making a spiritual investment. Will you join us in prayer and consider donating to this rewarding ministry if you're able? Several of the items can be used so check your closets & thrift store donation boxes. All financial contributions will be considered GIFTS as for now, we are not non-profit so they're not tax deductible. We are simply a group of people who care and want to make a difference. However, your monetary gift will be used SOLELY to purchase the needed items. No money is passed out to individuals. 

If you're financially able, please consider being a monthly donor (we have one so far), or you can also contact us to set up giving cash (*easiest for us*), check, or a digital payment transfer. But whether a one time gift or a recurring gift, any help will be a blessing to those whom are without their basic needs that are so easily taken for granted. 

Thank you for your time & prayers. Please check out our website where you can learn more & see pictures. 👍Feel free to email us at: BagsOfHope.xmas@gmail.com

**NOTE ABOUT "AMOUNT RAISED" LISTED HERE**  This blurb was just edited from last year's instead of writing a new one, so the amount raised includes this yr & last yr combined. The very first $100 was from last yr so there is $100 less than the total says. We wanted to make sure to accurately reflect that so people are aware how much of our goal we've actually met.