7 Easy Ways to Help the Homeless

"Think small," says Jill Rich, 2000 Good Neighbor Awards winner and homeless advocate. "You're not going to individually solve the whole homelessness problem."

But every kind gesture makes a difference. "It’s like the starfish story. A beach was covered with starfish that had washed ashore, and a little boy was bent over picking up one after another and throwing them back into the water. His mother rushed over and said, 'What are you doing? You can’t possibly throw all these starfish back in. It won’t make a difference.' To which the little boy says, 'Well, it made a difference to this one,' says Rich."

Rather than ignoring the homeless or giving a dollar, try on the following:

1. Give a toothbrush and toothpaste.

2. Carry fast food gift certificates.

3. Carry a list of local shelters and soup kitchens.

4. Say “hello” and smile.

5. Buy someone a sandwich or some fresh fruit.

6. Bring someone a clean blanket or sleeping bag in the winter.

7. Bring someone warm socks, gloves, and stocking cap in the winter.