Highest Rated Comments


MyHomelessMeals2627 karma

Thank you so much! I'll send you a message, and I'll definitely want to share things with others. I want to be more like the people who have helped me. I feel like I've grown as a person from homelessness, learning to be both more generous and more thankful for what I do have. I know when I get back on my feet, I'll be doing a lot more donating and volunteering. I tried volunteering at my local food bank at the start of the outbreak, because I heard food banks were short on volunteers, both because there was more demand and because people were self-quarantining (especially older volunteers). But it turned out that they were having to reduce volunteer opportunities for social distancing. Then my own health started to deteriorate, so I had to put that off indefinitely.

MyHomelessMeals1341 karma

I have Medicaid and live in a state that expanded it, so I very thankfully get medical care and prescriptions covered with no copays or deductibles. It's absolutely a huge lifesaver.

MyHomelessMeals1326 karma

I'm in my late 20s, and I lost my job because of secondary symptoms of a disease that basically left me with random cognitive difficulties that sometimes last all day, as well as extreme exhaustion, headaches, nausea, etc. A few months later I lost my apartment. :(

Edit: But to be clear, I'm fine most days. I just can't reliably work until I can get these symptoms under control.

MyHomelessMeals715 karma

Our local street newspaper that homeless people could sell on street corners has suspended its print publication, cutting off one way for people to make some money.

"Canning" - redeeming recyclable cans and bottles for money - has gotten tougher. Retailers' redemption sites have closed. A few independent machines are open, but there are fewer redeemables because fewer people are out consuming, and bars that would offer their bottles are closed. But due to health issues, I can't go all over town collecting bottles anymore.

Even panhandling isn't much of an option anymore because so few people are out and they're more inclined to keep their distance. I'm too embarrassed to panhandle, anyway.

I've been doing online gig work. Not typical /r/beermoney activity, which is easier if you can keep your phone plugged in and have unlimited internet. But lately, there are a lot more people competing for gigs, and they can bid lower if they're from lower-wage countries. I'm pretty sure this is because so many people around the world are out of a job right now.

MyHomelessMeals648 karma

  1. Obviously money and housing. But if you're thinking of something you might possibly donate, a good, thick pair of cushioned socks, and a pair of comfortable shoes.
  2. For giving to homeless people directly, definitely not rice or anything that needs to be cooked. In fact, food is the most readily available charitable item, whether from SNAP (food stamps/U.S. monetary food assistance), from food pantries, or from meal providers. But if you really wanted to get something shelf-stable, filling, popular, and relatively affordable, canned chili and canned peaches are usually crowd-pleasers. Jerky is great but also expensive for the amount you get.
  3. The most interesting person? I don't know if there's any one person, but there are some super-volunteers out there who seem to somehow be dedicating their whole lives to helping.

Edit: This thread has a lot more ideas for helping.