Three Things You Can Do to Help the Homeless

I am often asked, “What can I do to help homeless individuals?” If you want to do something a little different than the traditional volunteering or donating, it's as simple as 1-2-3:

1. Buy soap.
2. Take our ballroom dance class.
3. Smile at homeless people on the street.

Buy soap: LDRC runs a social enterprise program, Just B – B Just.  We hire and train clients to make and sell natural beauty products at farmers markets and retail stores. Formerly homeless individuals go to events and sell great products to individuals who may have never interacted with a homeless person before. Our employees tell their stories, educate the public, and those with homes instantly feel their compassion growing. And when they buy products with names like B wise, B generous, B kind, they help fulfill our mission. There’s so much power in conscious consumerism. Buy soap, help end homelessness.

Take our ballroom dance class: LDRC runs a program called Dancing Classrooms, now in 25 cities internationally. While it's generally done with school children, we have created a dance program for homeless adults. Dancing Classrooms teaches participants self-esteem, confidence, and how to treat themselves and their partners with respect and dignity. What is an apartment without self-respect, dignity, and a sense of wholeness? Teaching our clients healthy ways to exercise their minds, bodies and souls helps them better integrate back into the community once they have acquired housing while making their new lives sustainable. Our class is free, open to all, and you’re guaranteed to learn some dance moves and to leave feeling alive and fulfilled. Be a part of this breaking down of social barriers. Think of dance class as your community service!

Smile at homeless people: Homeless individuals are accustomed to being ignored in our society, as if they were invisible. Someone approaches us on the street, and we don’t know how to respond. Sometimes an asker gets no reaction at all - no eye contact, no words, no acknowledgement of existence. We all have the power to make someone feel visible and valuable. I’m not advocating giving money to everyone who asks, but rather, acknowledgement. The more smiles someone receives, the more chance they have to feel human. The more chance there is that they will decide to make changes and seek out available services. Significantly affecting someone’s life can happen with a gesture as simple as a smile.

Get Connected
Lodestar Day Resource Center
www.lodestardrc.org

This story, written by Jessica Berg, executive director of the Lodestar Day Resource Center, is part of the Chamber's monthly Businesswise for Women email newsletter. To sign up for any or all of the Chamber's email communications, click here.