Helping Others at Thanksgiving and Christmas

It's Thanksgiving time, and I'm feeling grateful for the roof over my head and food on my table. Not everyone is so lucky. When I drive to Salt Lake City, I often run into people with signs that say, "Homeless. Please help."

Friends have told me that they are reluctant to give money to these people, because they are concerned that it won't be used for food. Even if they use it to buy food at a fast food restaurant or convenience store, they won't get much for their money.

Here's what I do instead: I keep a bag of nonperishable food in my car, just in case I run into someone who is homeless.

I include a can opener, canned food, packaged food (like granola bars), napkins, plastic cutlery, etc. Nice to add are antibacterial wipes, toothbrush and toothpaste, "Space Blanket" (to keep warm, available at Walmart), a list of soup kitchens and anything else you would want if you were living on the streets.

I try to make the food more or less a balanced diet; including vegetables, fruit, a starch and a source of protein (beans or tuna). A small piece of candy is nice to include. I save samples of cereal or other packaged food to put in the bag.

I gave one of these packets away in Wisconsin during a visit there. The man who received it saw my license plate and said, "Thank you, Utah!" Other responses have been amazed expressions, looks of wonder and effusive thanks.
I've never had a homeless person seem disappointed to get one of these, and if your car breaks down in a deserted area, at least you won't starve while waiting for help.

While we're talking about Thanksgiving, I found this hat on Facebook. I wonder how to make it in Tofurky? Use Soy Silk?

The bathroom remodel continues. The shower enclosure is supposed to go in today. DH is finishing the doors himself. Just the doors and a few touches, and it will be done...for now. Here's the broom closet, which is in the powder room:

Besides the door, it needs shelves at the back to hold cleaning supplies and to store other items. The brooms, mops, etc., will go on the wall, and the vacuum cleaner in front of the shelves.

Here's the new closet in the master bath, with the doors up and ready to be stained and finished:

There's a laundry chute in the floor of the closet. It will deliver dirty clothes directly to the laundry room on the floor below. We're still waiting for the end panel on the vanity and the trim on the medicine cabinets, which are hinged to open from the outside edges, so they can be used together to see the back of your head.

For the baby fans, here's a shot of Miss Daphne, showing off her smile, and baby brother Zachary in the background, looking on.

The Dogwood Blossoms sweater is almost ready for the steeks. I've been recovering from a cold, so haven't had much energy for knitting, but should get back to it soon.

Note: This blog post was produced entirely on the MacBook, using the iPad for photo processing. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for or cleaned.