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It has been a while since we have posted a new blessing bag printable. My goal at the beginning of the year was to post one every single month. But this summer our local police department asked people to stop giving money to panhandlers as many of them had made a career out of it and weren’t actually homeless. Because of this, the number of individuals asking for money drastically reduced and we rarely ran across anyone holding signs. With the onset of cold weather, however, I have noticed more individuals with signs next to busy shopping centers so I decided now would be a good time to start making mini blessing bags again! We have found the sandwich-size bags to be much easier to hand out and less cumbersome for those receiving the bags.

Check out this post for a master list of what you could include >>> Blessing Bags

I personally believe that it is my part to give (in a responsible way) to those who humble themselves enough to ask for help. They will have to wrestle with their own consciences for what they do with the gift and whether it was even needed in the first place. But I simply cannot turn away when I see someone in need.

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” -James 2:14-17

One way we have tried to responsibly give is by giving gift cards for food rather than cash. I used to include a $5 bill in our blessing bags with the intention that they could buy themselves something to eat. Because the majority of people that we meet on the road asking for help are in a high-traffic shopping center and within walking distance, I normally give a $5 gift card to McDonald’s. Walmart is right on the corner as well, so that would be another good option.