The most compassionate thing we can do is to tell others about Jesus and His love for them and how He sacrificed Himself at the cross for our sins, is risen from the dead and the hope that this gives us all (see Romans 8).

But Jesus fed people, too (Matthew 14:13-21, Luke 9:12-17). And just like our Lord, we can help meet people’s needs. James 2:15-16 says “¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?”

There are lots of organizations out there that you can donate to, if you can help. Choose organizations carefully when donating. If an organization is just wanting you to donate money, there are reasons to be suspicious. The best thing you can do is to contact your local food pantries, women’s shelters, crisis centers, pet shelters, immigration shelters, nursing homes, prisons, etc. to find out what may be needed in goods or services.

Here are some ideas of things to give to the organizations mentioned above—those things that are needed and sometimes forgotten about:

• Feminine hygiene products – you can include opened boxes of products, as long as each individual item is in it’s original, unopened plastic wrap
• Nursing pads
• Diapers for babies and adults, in multiple sizes
• Baby wipes
• Baby formula
• Diaper rash medicine (don’t give powder for babies! Talc has the possibility for asbestos and corn starch is aggravating to their little respitory systems).
• Teething rings, bottles, pacifiers
• Adult nutritional supplements such as Ensure or Boost
• New, unopened packages of underwear in a multitude of sizes for children and adults
• New and gently used bras
• Vitamins – lots of people that utilize facilities such as shelters and pantries are essential vitamin/mineral deficient
• New and (very) gently used socks for adults and children
• Aspirin, ibuprofen
• Toilet paper, paper towels
• Pajamas, blankets, pillows, pillow protectors that are waterproof/bug proof and sheet sets; if you can afford to donate beds and other furniture, these things are needed for many facilities
• Household cleaners, laundry soap, dish soap
• Bath soap, hair brushes, combs and shampoo/conditioner
• Toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, dental floss
• Shelf stable protein and meat – I was able to divide up some ground deer meat into 1 pound packages and found a food pantry with the freezer space to take it. If you hunt, consider this option. I don’t know how many shelters/pantries/churches have this kind of space, but perhaps there are more than we know about.
• Bath towels, dish towels
• Pet food – lots of people have animal companions and we should be caring for animals, too (see Proverbs 12:10). One note about pet food: if you have a cat and a dog and need to make one bag of pet food work for both, get cat food to work for them both. Cats have extra needs and a more delicate system; dog food is not appropriate for cats. However, dogs could eat the cat food and be fine, at least in the short term. If you have rodents as pets, don’t forget that any vegetable scraps you have are excellent for them (and necessary). Also, if you have a grassy area that hasn’t been treated with lawn chemicals, the grass, dandelions, etc. might work to supplement their diet of pellet food. Look up your rodent’s needs on the internet, to see what might work. Foster pet parenting: Sometimes, it is helpful for someone going through difficult times to have someone else care for their animal. Knowing that their furry family member is in capable hands, just till they can sort things out, can be a huge blessing.
• Spices, salt, pepper, bottled lemon juice, vinegar, cooking oil
• Sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, yeast in packets
• Tea, coffee, hot cocoa, powdered creamer – this can be an amazing comfort when someone is going through a difficult time
• Toys, crayons, paper for drawing on, coloring books, story books, etc.
• School clothes, school supplies and backpacks
• Coats, winter hats, mittens/gloves, snow boots, rain boots, umbrellas, for adults and children
• Shoes, purses and appropriate interviewing clothes (with proper assessories)
• Condoms, Opill® and other birth control options – if someone is going through difficult times, it is important to give them the chance to limit family size, if they want to. Check with the facility you are considering donating to, to see what their policy is.
• If you are blessed with an abundance of resources to pay for or have been able to obtain the following education/skills, donation of these difficult-to-access services are always in need: doula/midwifery, tutoring and mentoring for children and adults, veterinary care, dental care, medical care, legal advice and representation, vehicle repair, childcare, hair cuts/nail care for job interviews, mental health counseling, moving trucks and moving helpers, nutritional counseling, job interview training and resume writing assistance.
• If you decide to donate your time as a volunteer, be prepared for the best and worst. Sometimes you are helping people with mental illnesses, and you could feel exhausted when trying to help. Sometimes someone dies that you’ve been ministering to, and it can be difficult to handle. Many times those you are helping will not thank you for your time or your help and might even be hostile towards you. When volunteering, it is best if you know your limits in what you can deal with, stick to your boundaries and don’t give in to pressure to do more if you can’t. Always remember that your volunteerism isn’t about you and how good it makes you feel. It’s about your service to Jesus and about those you are helping.