(Please also see Mark's timely post on this issue.)
My reaction to city government restrictions on serving food to homeless individuals in public? Let's fight the laws and spend some time with the homeless doing something other than giving them food.
Things to do with homeless people in public not involving handing out food:
- Share Holy Communion
- Go to a restaurant and order food
- Ask if they have special skills or secrets to teach you
- Do random acts of kindness for strangers together
- Watch funny videos on YouTube
- Hug if you both want to hug
- Ask what they want to do
- Sit and talk about rights
- Sit and talk economics
- Sit and talk theology
- Sit and talk politics
- Care for a community garden
- Start a guerrilla garden
- Do an art project
- Sing a song
- Tell stories
- Listen to music
- Watch a movie
- Watch a TV show
- Share a cigarette
- Give out sleeping bags
- Give out toothbrushes
- Give out wash-clothes
- Give out conditioner
- Give out toothpaste
- Give out underwear
- Give out shampoo
- Give out tampons
- Give out lotion
- Give out pads
- Give out combs
- Give out tissues
- Give out water
- Give out tarps
- Give out socks
- Give out shoes
- Give out soap
- Give out hats
- Play a game
- Play checkers
- Play chess
- People watch
- Read a book
- Shake hands
- Take a walk
- High five
- Laugh
- Smile
- Listen
- Cry
I get that the first thing on the list involves sharing food. But it's all Holy Communion, isn't it? If you're arrested for sharing Communion, it's a whole new ballgame.