If a 4-year-old can do it so can you

4-year-old's lemonade stand helps Atlanta's homeless
Atlanta Journal- Constitution 8/17/07

While politicians and activists argue over the solution to homelessness, a 4-year-old Vinings girl has decided to take matters into her own hands.

Tori Dutkiewicz has raised at least $400 for the Atlanta Union Mission by selling cupcakes and drinks at her lemonade stand. Her mother said her daughter decided to raise money for the homeless after she saw a homeless man begging for money.

I only wish that I had been that socially conscious at 4. Or even at 14:

Teen Spends Birthday Helping the Homeless
Calgary Sun 8/13/07

The ice cream was abundant at Hayley Gorman's 14th birthday yesterday as she celebrated with about 1,200 people she didn't even know.

The teen spent her special evening serving dinner to Calgary's homeless at the Calgary Drop-In Centre rather than partying with friends.

But its never too late:

Woman helps feed the homeless with her knitting needles
Federal Way Mirror 8/14/07

Hatley, who once benefited from the free dinners and clothing offered through local churches, feels that this is her way of giving back to better the lives of the homeless.

Homeless people get cold, Hatley said, and her homemade afghans are the perfect remedy.

Each afghan typically takes about 12 spools of yarn and three months to complete. She relies completely on donations to create the large blankets, which could cover a queen-size bed.

We all can give back in ways other than just donating our own money. Granted we don't all have time for a lemonade stand, money to make a significant financial contribution, or the skills to knit an afghan but most of us have time to devote a couple hours a month to volunteering at a shelter or a soup kitchen. Most of us have enough money to buy a package of socks that we can keep in our car or bag and can hand out to someone in need. And all of us have the talent to stop and say "I'm sorry, I can't help you today" instead of walking by and not looking someone in the eye (I admit that I'm guilty of this too).

Here are just a couple cheap (even free) and simple suggestions:

• Buy a package of socks, cereal bars, or bottled water to hand out
• Offer your leftovers or, if you're going into a fast food joint or convenience store, ask them if you can get them a drink or a burger
• Spend a holiday afternoon, or any day, at a shelter, soup kitchen, or food pantry
• Just smile and engage in a conversation
• Donate your old clothes to a shelter and your household items to a housing program or thrift store. Shelters are often in need of clothing for residents who are in disarray (I encountered this problem during my volunteer shift just last week). As for household goods, the shelter where I got my first taste of homeless services, The Salem Mission, will actually come and pick up unwanted furniture in good condition and also accepts donations of kitchen items for its thrift store and residents who are transitioning into housing. Look around for a similar program in your area.

You CAN help, you just have to take initiative, get out there, and do it!