Gift Bag Ideas for the Spirit of Giving

Reach out to the vulnerable people in your community with the spirit of giving.homeless woman image by Christopher Martin from Fotolia.com

The "spirit of giving" is a term that is used to describe the motivation within a person to reach out to his neighbor, to join hands for a community and to provide for those who are less fortunate. In her "USA Today" editorial, "Nation Needs Youthful Idealism More Than Ever," Michelle Obama encouraged us to pull "together to solve our nation's problems and to lift up our fellow Americans." Show your spirit of giving through gift bags filled with useful items for the under-served, forgotten and vulnerable in your community.

Toiletries Bag for the Homeless

Fill gift bags with toiletries for homeless people in your community. Buy or collect travel-size shampoos, conditioners, deodorants, shower gels and toothpaste. Also, consider including a bottle of baby powder and body spray for those who cannot find a shower or do not have an opportunity to shower regularly. A toothbrush, comb, brush and handheld mirror are other nice additions, because these items are expensive and are luxuries when one is living on the streets. If you have many items, consider using a brown grocery bag for your gift bag. You can embellish it by tying it with a bright fabric ribbon. Using a grocery bag for your gift bag also may leave room for a travel pillow, which you can nestle in the base of the bag.

Fill a decorative gift bag with useful and entertaining items for a troubled teenager who lives in an orphanage or a children's home. This gift bag also makes a great gift for a new foster child who has just arrived in your home. Fill the bag with snacks and candies because many teenagers like to eat. These items also may be luxury items for a teenager who does not have an allowance or a way to make money to buy little treats. Consider placing one "big" item in the bag, such as a handheld music player, a new DVD or CD or a gift card to a local clothing store. You can use the remainder of the room in the bag for school supplies--colorful writing pens, miniature notebooks and maybe even a journal.

Fill plastic crates in your car or truck with lunch gift bags. You can stock these gift bags with foods that do not need to be refrigerated. You can give these to people you see in your community who are asking for food or who appear to be hungry. Some examples of what you can put in your lunch gift bag are bottled water, boxed fruit drinks, apples, oranges, bags of crackers, cookies and chips, and at least two sandwiches wrapped in plastic bags. You can make the sandwiches fresh every day. Peanut butter and jelly is a nice choice because it will not spoil like lunch meat will.