Although I do give money to Panhandlers I come across weekly, I have found another way to contribute aside from cash to someone on the street.

We have an organization called Hope Net. They encourage you NOT to give money to people on the street - but to give them a voucher for their organization. Hope Net will then help them in the way they might need the most, a place to sleep, food, a chance to take a shower. Through our Rotary Club we are asked to provide food for them. Several times a year we collect cans of food and we are asked to provide pop top cans of tuna, or soup - healthy food that can be easily opened without a can opener. Peanut butter is another request. Whenever we have these drives, I find myself spending way more than a buck or two to a panhandler - by buying dozens of cans of food or jars of peanut butter. (there is an emphasis on nutrition).

Another organization probably not many know about is NEW DIRECTIONS. It is an organization and building on the Veterans Administration property - although it is not directly affiliated with any government organization.
They are actively searching out veterans every day in Los Angeles - by finding them under bridges, on corners, anywhere they live as a homeless person. Their mission is to rehabilitate the veteran by getting him or her off of drugs, alcohol and the ultimate goal is for the veteran to leave with
A. A JOB
B. AN APARTMENT
C. CLOTHING
D. $2,000 IN SAVINGS

They have an amazing success rate - because they don't back down - they are there every step of the way.

Just this week we had another drive - to provide those in rehabilitation with some basic stuff - soap - toothpaste - toothbrushes - deodorant - socks.
Again, you wouldn't believe the mound of these products that were brought in to donate to NEW DIRECTIONS. And our organization is just a middle class group of people - no one is wealthy. I think there is such a great response because we all know - our money is being well spent - not cash
for perhaps more booze.

On the premises they have a cooking school - and they have opened a diner on the grounds - serving great food at a reasonable price. They also do catering - and we found out how good they are - they gave us way too much food (which we paid for, of course). But we went back to them and told them their portions were too generous.

They also have an outstanding choir which you can hire - but all of the money goes back to help their buddies in re-hab.

What is perhaps most frightening of all is that there is a prediction that there will be a huge uptick in homeless once our men and women return from Iraq.
These men and women walk "in the front line" every day - never knowing when or where there will be another explosion or suicide bomber. So they are returning not only physically damaged, but also mentally damaged.

We are not prepared in any way to deal with the numbers of people that will be needing help badly.