I’ve got the guys down the highway from me, who are mostly homeless due to mental disorders, walking around in REI, Marmot, Arc’teryx, Darn Tough, OR, looking comfy and fly as heck!
A lot of it is catch and release stuff, so not like my buddies are really even getting used gear.
To be honest, it feels a lot better seeing your gear go directly to helping people in need, than it does in return monetary transactions. Literally directly to the people, and not to a charity middle-man, if possible. When someone who is down on life and living on the streets, having a human show compassion really means the whole world to them. Feeling less than human is a worse cold than any outdoor air temp could ever impart on a human being.
Within reason, or course. I know my down sleeping bag and quilts would be of no use to them and they would get trashed. Just going by the fact that I know these guys personally and hang out with them when I am beach salmon fishing on their turf. Great guys who truly were born into bad luck with mental disabilities. But they should only be using synthetic gear here in the PNW rain.
In my experience, fresh socks and underwear are the most needed items by a lot of people living without steady shelter.
Even if you are shy about just walking up to a homeless camp or people on the street, you can leave a “Christmas” present wrapped in clear plastic bag left for them. There are some homeless who are indeed on bad drugs and very unstable mentally, so the reluctance is totally natural.
Spread the love, happy holidays!
