Six years ago, while living in Chicago, we would always drive past an underpass that many homeless people made their homes. We figured a hot meal and knowing someone cared would go a long way, if we were in their position. We went home, cooked up some hamburger helper and rolls and passed out our 10 meals. We asked what they were most in need of and got to planning. We decided that although we participated in other charity endeavors, this one was close to our hearts, and we would make our little stamp on the city. We decided to do it every year. “Be A Blessing Day” was born!
The next year we decided to expand our blessing bags. In addition to a home cooked me we included more food, basic necessities and a bible. The following 2 years we invited people to help us and the response was amazing! So amazing, in fact, that we doubled each preceding year’s goals!
Our fourth year we were able to give out 117 blessing bags and 50 Women’s Bags. The Women’s Bag consisted of feminine hygiene products, make up, hair brushes/combs, hair products and nail polish and were handed out to each woman along with a Blessing Bag.
Through personally handing out each blessing bag the first 4 years, we noted the items we’ve received the most enthusiastic feedback on and decided to shake things up a bit.
Last year for our 5th anniversary we wanted to bless each person we met in a greater and more impactful way. Our goal was 150 Blessing Bags! But instead of just one hot meal and a sandwich, each Blessing Bag included 5 servings of Spaghetti, 5 PB&J sandwiches, (That means you made 750 servings of each happen!!) Snacks, at least 2 sets of Hand warmers, (over 300 of them!) gloves, socks, a hat, candy, a toothbrush, toothpaste, chap stick, lotion, hand sanitizer, deodorant, dry shampoo & a bible. In addition, we aimed to pack 60 Women’s Bag to hand out alongside the 150 Blessing Bags.
Because of the outpouring of support from all of you, we are elated to say that we hit that goal!!!!!! It felt absolutely amazing working with all of you to fill all those Blessing Bags with enough food to last 5 days AND all of the essentials we aimed for! Every last one of your donations whether monetary, items, cooking, packing, transportation, organizing or passing out bags, YOU MADE LAST YEAR OUR BIGGEST SUCCESS YET!! WE did this TOGETHER, We cannot thank you all enough.
Through further research on how best to protect against frost bite, hypothermia and other frigid weather conditions, we saw some ways we can improve even more this year. Did you know that wool and polypropylene have excellent wicking ability keeping you dry while also providing warmth? While cotton stays wet and can actually pull heat away from your body? Consuming a diet with enough protein can also help the body stay warm and fight hypothermia!
That’s why this year we want to make QUALITY our focus. Our goal is to, yet again, reach 60 Women’s Bags and 150 Blessing Bags with all of the items and basic necessities we gave out last year. Alongside the 5 servings of spaghetti and 5 pb & j’s, we want to add protein bars in place of some of the more “empty” snacks. For the hats, gloves and socks, our goal is for all of them to be wool or polypropylene. We are learning every year how to improve and with quality comes more cost. We need your help now more than ever, to achieve these goals!
Every single dollar, every single donation helps more than you know! While this may be small in the grand scheme of things, we know it has a huge impact on those we are able to touch. We know because they tell us and we can see it on their faces. Thank you so much for your continued support!
God Bless,
Jarvis and Julia
Items included in the Be A Blessing Bags:
Spaghetti in Tomato Sauce
Dinner Rolls
Peanut Butter &Jelly Sandwiches
Candy
Snacks
Socks
Gloves
HandWarmers
Bibles
Large TupperWare
Deodorant
Lotion
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Combs
Water Bottles
Feminine Hygiene Products
Dry Shampoo
Nail Polish Body Spray
Make-Up (samples are always great)
The next year we decided to expand our blessing bags. In addition to a home cooked me we included more food, basic necessities and a bible. The following 2 years we invited people to help us and the response was amazing! So amazing, in fact, that we doubled each preceding year’s goals!
Our fourth year we were able to give out 117 blessing bags and 50 Women’s Bags. The Women’s Bag consisted of feminine hygiene products, make up, hair brushes/combs, hair products and nail polish and were handed out to each woman along with a Blessing Bag.
Through personally handing out each blessing bag the first 4 years, we noted the items we’ve received the most enthusiastic feedback on and decided to shake things up a bit.
Last year for our 5th anniversary we wanted to bless each person we met in a greater and more impactful way. Our goal was 150 Blessing Bags! But instead of just one hot meal and a sandwich, each Blessing Bag included 5 servings of Spaghetti, 5 PB&J sandwiches, (That means you made 750 servings of each happen!!) Snacks, at least 2 sets of Hand warmers, (over 300 of them!) gloves, socks, a hat, candy, a toothbrush, toothpaste, chap stick, lotion, hand sanitizer, deodorant, dry shampoo & a bible. In addition, we aimed to pack 60 Women’s Bag to hand out alongside the 150 Blessing Bags.
Because of the outpouring of support from all of you, we are elated to say that we hit that goal!!!!!! It felt absolutely amazing working with all of you to fill all those Blessing Bags with enough food to last 5 days AND all of the essentials we aimed for! Every last one of your donations whether monetary, items, cooking, packing, transportation, organizing or passing out bags, YOU MADE LAST YEAR OUR BIGGEST SUCCESS YET!! WE did this TOGETHER, We cannot thank you all enough.
Through further research on how best to protect against frost bite, hypothermia and other frigid weather conditions, we saw some ways we can improve even more this year. Did you know that wool and polypropylene have excellent wicking ability keeping you dry while also providing warmth? While cotton stays wet and can actually pull heat away from your body? Consuming a diet with enough protein can also help the body stay warm and fight hypothermia!
That’s why this year we want to make QUALITY our focus. Our goal is to, yet again, reach 60 Women’s Bags and 150 Blessing Bags with all of the items and basic necessities we gave out last year. Alongside the 5 servings of spaghetti and 5 pb & j’s, we want to add protein bars in place of some of the more “empty” snacks. For the hats, gloves and socks, our goal is for all of them to be wool or polypropylene. We are learning every year how to improve and with quality comes more cost. We need your help now more than ever, to achieve these goals!
Every single dollar, every single donation helps more than you know! While this may be small in the grand scheme of things, we know it has a huge impact on those we are able to touch. We know because they tell us and we can see it on their faces. Thank you so much for your continued support!
God Bless,
Jarvis and Julia
Items included in the Be A Blessing Bags:
Spaghetti in Tomato Sauce
Dinner Rolls
Peanut Butter &Jelly Sandwiches
Candy
Snacks
Socks
Gloves
HandWarmers
Bibles
Large TupperWare
Deodorant
Lotion
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Combs
Water Bottles
Feminine Hygiene Products
Dry Shampoo
Nail Polish Body Spray
Make-Up (samples are always great)