Picture this: you are pulling up to a spotlight when you see the familiar cardboard sign that says ‘homeless’ or ‘will work for food.’

We’ve all been in this situation, but how do you respond? Do you get a nervous feeling in your stomach and avert your eyes? Do you smile and reach for your wallet?

It’s easy to just keep driving past, especially when it’s freezing cold outside and you need those extra bucks for your QT run.  But compare your small discomforts to the huge benefits of that person.  And even though some of us usually pat ourselves on the back for giving a couple of bucks, it is minor to the change we could be affecting if we put aside our selfishness.

Think about it.

How many hours a day do we focus on ourselves and our own wants and needs? Most of us spend nearly the whole day working to improve ourselves.  We go to school and study for hours, reasoning that someday

we’ll need a job that pays well.  Some spend other hours at practices or

work, with friends or entertaining ourselves.

But stop and think.

Though it is necessary to improve ourselves as humans, what is the real goal here?  Wouldn’t it better serve all of us to give the time and money we spend on frivolous activities to those who barely squeak by?  Not that everything we do needs to be for others, but as a predominately Christian community, it’s our duty to help our dear neighbor, and small acts of kindness can make a huge difference to someone in need.

These are several of the many ways you can become involved.  We should bring some of these ideas to our community and make helping the homeless a regular practice at STA for years to come.  It’s so simple to help others, especially with the resources and huge hearts we have in our community.  So what are you waiting for? Go make a difference!

To state it simply: each student at STA needs to take action now.  Below are a few simple ways you can help, according to 54 Ways You Can Help the Homeless, an internet article by Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff:

• Carry food gift certificates with you. Pick up a few $5 gift cards to McDonalds or a local grocery store. It is reassuring for you to know what your money is being used for while still helping out.
• Carry cards listing all the local shelters, their addresses and phone numbers. Do you know where local shelters or soup kitchens are? Like us, some homeless people may not know where to go to seek help.
• Make ‘Hope Bags’ and keep them in your car to hand out. Hope Bags contain many non-perishable foods, water bottles, han warmers, blankets, etc. This will last them longer than a few bucks and gives them more essentials.
• Donate bake/craft sale proceeds to a shelter. Have a bake sale during lunch or sell friendship bracelets or headbands. Any of the shelters mentioned will gladly accept donations.
• Volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen. There are many kinds of shelters out there- children, battered women, elderly, drug-addicts, families- all needing help of volunteers to continue to function. Call (816) 753-26770 to serve food at the Holy Family House.
• Volunteer your hobbies. Knit hats for the homeless of teach them life skills. Call Harbor Village at (913) 232-5400 to teach a life skills class.
• Tutor the homeless. Many homeless are in need of tutors to push beyond their current lifestyle. Contact Mother’s Refuge in Independence, a center for homeless teens who are pregnant or have children at (816) 356-4797.
• Babysit homeless children. Contact Light House Inc. at (816) 361-2233 to babysit the children of struggling mothers.
• Hold an event and donate the proceeds to a shelter or organization. Students could also ask for money for homeless instead of presents or have people bring canned goods to birthday parties.
• Join Habitat for Humanity. Habitat is an organization that builds/renovates homes of the poor. You can volunteer anytime and there are often several events occurring. Register online at http://www.habitat.org/getinv/.
• Rifle through your closet and old toys and donate your excess. Spend a Saturday going through your old things or go buy new items. Most of the organizations mentioned have a list of urgent needs on their websites.
• Cycling for Change. Cycling for Change is a bike ride across the US by Fr. Matt Ruhl and his team to eliminate poverty. A group from St. Teresa’s will be riding from Atchison, KS to Kansas City on July 17.  Go to the Cycling for Change website or contact Mrs. Good for more information on how to join the ride, donate and get involved!