Blessing Bags are the grocery bags we give out to the homeless and needy that are begging at street corners and other places we go during our daily lives. Each bag includes a gallon zipper bag of basic supplies and a copy of the New Testament which has verses highlighted using a yellow Crayola Twistables colored pencil (they don't bleed through, tear pages, or leave shadowing).
NOTE: In our local area, there's a phone-in program for the homeless to get help with shelter, clothing, jobs, and other thing by calling in to a community assistance agency. We print out and include a small flyer for that agency in every one of our Blessing Bags. Please consider including information if a similar program exists in your area.
This list is always changing, depending on what we can find in bulk or on clearance. Here's the base list we work from.
HYGIENE SUPPLIES:
washcloth (1-2), comb, pocket tissue pack, toothbrush (individually wrapped), antibacterial moist wipes (2)
hotel/travel size products: bar soap, body wash, shampoo, toothpaste, disposable razors (2)
MEDICAL
SUPPLIES:
bandaids (10-12 in various sizes),
lip balm
SNACKS:
(pick
6 - individually wrapped single-serve packages)*apple sauce cups (unsweetened), peanuts, cracker sandwiches, snack crackers, cereal bars, raisins, granola bars, fruit cups (real juice or light syrup), vienna sausage can
MISCELLANEOUS
ITEMS:
bottle of water,
hand-colored Blessing Card**,
highlighted New Testament
SEASONAL
ACCESORIES (pick one, as appropriate):
winter cap,
umbrella or poncho
*Look
for the 4-6 count snack boxes at the Dollar Tree and put six
different food items in each bag for variety. Try to get low sugar
and high protein combinations rather than cookies, candies, and other
sweets.
**You
can draw/print your own Blessing Cards on cardstock or buy printed
ones from a Christian gift store. We prefer the pocket-sized Colorful
Blessings: Cards to Color and Share, available for around $5 per box
of 44 cards. The scripture and messages contained on these cards are
inspirational regardless of the recipient's circumstances, versus a
lot of tracts and scripture cards that could send a negative message
to someone who is already struggling with a traumatic event or just
daily life.
Click here for a printable pdf list of our suggested Blessing Bag contents.
What verses do we highlight?
Here's a current list of the verses that are highlighted in the New Testaments that we hand out in our Blessing Bags.
MATTHEW 4:4,
5:6, 6:9-13, 6:33,11:28-29, 22:37-39, 26:41
MARK
LUKE 1:37,
2:52, 8:15, 11:28, 14:11, 22:19-20
JOHN 1:12,
3:16, 3:30, 8:31-32, 13:34-35, 14:27, 15:4, 15:16, 17:3, 17:17
ACTS 13:38-39
ROMANS 1:17,
4:5, 4:7-8, 4:20, 4:22-25, 5:1, 5:8, 6:11-13, 8:1, 8:6, 8:9-11,
8:32-34, 12:1-2, 12:10, 12:12, 15:5-7, 15:12-21
1
CORINTHIANS 1:30-31,
2:2, 6:12, 10:13, 13:4-8, 13:13
2
CORINTHIANS 1:3-4,
3:18, 5:17-18, 5:21, 8:21, 9:8, 10:5, 12:9
GALATIANS 5:16,
5:22-23, 6:2, 6:9
EPHESIANS 1:5,
2:4-5, 2:8-9, 2:12-13, 3:20, 4:1-3, 4:29, 4:31-32, 6:4, 6:10, 6:18
PHILIPPIANS 1:6,
2:3, 2:12, 2:14-15, 4:4, 4:6-8, 4:11, 4:13, 4:19
COLOSSIANS 1:10-11,
1:13, 2:13-14, 3:2, 3:16, 3:23-24, 4:2
1
THESSALONIANS 5:9,
5:11
2
THESSALONIANS 2:16-17
1
TIMOTHY 1:15,
6:6
2
TIMOTHY 1:7,
3:16
TITUS 2:4-5,
2:11-14, 3:5
PHILEMON
HEBREWS 2:14-15,
6:10, 7:25, 9:14, 10:10, 10:14, 10:19, 10:22, 11:6, 12:1, 12:6,
12:14-15, 13:5
JAMES 1:2-4
1
PETER 1:3-4,
1:18-19, 2:8-10, 3:8, 3:15, 4:8, 5:5-6, 5:8
2
PETER 1:5-7,
3:18
1
JOHN 2:15,
4:10-11, 4:18, 5:3
2
JOHN
3
JOHN
JUDE 24-25
REVELATION
(This list is updated as we expand our highlights.)
We hope that you find these lists to be helpful in establishing your own local outreach opportunities.
Comment below to let us know what you include in outreach bags within your community, or if you have any suggestions for other items or verses that might be helpful for our use in the future. Also, share any uplifting stories you may have about times you've felt drawn to help a stranger who needed it. Peace.
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