{"id":6246,"date":"2010-12-15T20:40:20","date_gmt":"2010-12-16T04:40:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.reallifesuperheroes.org\/?p=6246"},"modified":"2010-12-15T20:40:20","modified_gmt":"2010-12-16T04:40:20","slug":"phantom-zeros-outreach-check-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/2010\/12\/15\/phantom-zeros-outreach-check-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Phantom Zero's Outreach Check List"},"content":{"rendered":"

NOURISHMENT<\/strong> (FOODSTUFFS\/DRINKSTUFFS)
\nFoods need to make sense. They need to be “functional foods” which can be easily stored, easily stashed, or easily or eaten “on the go.” Most homeless people have no can openers, no heating elements, limited access to anything which would allow them to use anything with preparation beyond adding water (and even water is scarce). They usually only have personal storage space, so large items are out. The more compact, and the less perishable, the better.
\nNon-perishable items can be stored for a later time. Don’t overstock yourself on perishable items, as you may be overstocked with extras which will go to waste. This is especially so for the same type of perishable items–repetition is boring.
\nIt is sometimes difficult to find that fine line between quality and quantity. Certainly, some of the cheaper, more basic things will keep someone alive (as attested to by the offerings of many homeless shelters), but I’ve found that the act of charity should also bring with it an acknowledgment that you care–and better quality and variety foodstuffs and drinkstuffs can mean just that.
\nThe best way to serve these things is by making a large box with a variety of items, offering what you have, and letting whomever decide what they want. It’s always good to have someone stand by your main supply whose job at any given stop is to fill boxes when they run low on one supply, or need to be completely refilled. A box should be kept filled on standby.
\nOf all these items, clean drinkable water is the most important.
\n(You can live up to three weeks without food, but only three days without water). Expect to hand out twice as much water than any other item–more if the items you hand out require water to make.
\n_Food<\/strong><\/p>\n

__No Preparation (Pre-packaged; Individual Size; Non-Perishable)<\/p>\n

___Cereal Bars\/Granola Bars<\/p>\n

___Cookies<\/p>\n

___Crackers (plain or flavored)<\/p>\n

___Dried Fruit\/Fruit Leather<\/p>\n

___Energy Bars<\/p>\n

___Freeze-Dried Vegetables<\/p>\n

___Jerkey or other Shelf-Stable Meat (or meat substitute equivalent)<\/p>\n

___Nuts\/Seeds\/Baked Soybeans<\/p>\n

___Peanut Butter\/Nut Butter<\/p>\n

___Shelf Stable Fruit Cups\/Applesauce Cups<\/p>\n

___Shelf-Stable Cheeses<\/p>\n

___Shelf-Stable Pudding Cups<\/p>\n

___Trail Mix\/GORP<\/p>\n

___Vacuum-Packed Fish & Chicken (pull-tab or pouch)<\/p>\n

__No Preparation (Perishable)<\/p>\n

___Fruit (sturdy, low-tooth fruit preferred)<\/p>\n

__Requires Preparation (Perishable; Cold Service)<\/p>\n

___Cereal Packs (how-to below)*<\/p>\n

___Hard Boiled Eggs<\/p>\n

___Logan Bread (how-to below)**<\/p>\n

___Sandwiches<\/p>\n

__Requires Preparation (Hot Service)<\/p>\n

___Chili<\/p>\n

___Coffee<\/p>\n

___Soup<\/p>\n

__Requires Preparation (Non-Perishable)<\/p>\n

___MRE<\/p>\n

___Ready-to-Eat Meals<\/p>\n

___Soup In A Cup<\/p>\n

_Beverages<\/strong><\/p>\n

__No Preparation (Non-Perishable)<\/p>\n

___Bottled Water<\/p>\n

___Juice Boxes<\/p>\n

__No Preparation (Perishable)<\/p>\n

___Bottles\/Cans of Fruit\/Vegetable
\nJuice<\/p>\n

___Shelf-Stable Milk\/Milk Substitute (High Temperature\/Short Time Ultra Flash-Pasturized)<\/p>\n

____Note: Once opened\/made, these dairy products can spoil.<\/em><\/p>\n

__Requires Preparation (Perishable)<\/p>\n

___Powdered Milk<\/p>\n

__Requires Preparation (Non-Perishable)<\/p>\n

___Instant Beverage Enhancers – Cold (Iced Tea, Kool Aid, Lemonade, Powdered Gatorade, etc.)<\/p>\n

___Instant Beverage Enhancers – Hot (Instant Cappuccino, Instant Hot Coco, Instant Coffee, etc.)<\/p>\n

_Other Items<\/strong><\/p>\n

___Altoids<\/p>\n

___Gum<\/p>\n

___Hard Candy<\/p>\n

___Plastic Sealed Packs of “fun sized” Candy (M&M’s, Reeces Pieces, etc.; loose foil wrapped chocolate melts)<\/p>\n

___Sugar Packets (for beverages)<\/p>\n

MISCELLANEOUS FOOD SERVICE<\/strong><\/p>\n

___Containers and Serving Utensils for Bulk Items (Large Stable Pots for Chili\/Soup\/etc. and ladles)<\/p>\n

___Condiments<\/p>\n

___Cups (Hot\/Cold Beverage)<\/p>\n

___Soup Cups<\/p>\n

___Lids<\/p>\n

___Utensils (forks, spoons, knives; individually wrapped preferred)<\/p>\n

HEALTH<\/strong><\/p>\n

____Note: I’d advise caution before handing out drugs of any sort. Over The Counter drugs are still drugs. In high, or even moderate doses, they can have adverse health effects. If you do choose to hand these out, make sure they are clearly labeled and “single dose” packs, and never hand out more than one pack at any given time.<\/em><\/p>\n

_Over The Counter Drugs<\/strong><\/p>\n

___Acid Controller Tablets (Pepcid AC)<\/p>\n

___Antacid tabs<\/p>\n

___Anti-Diarrheal Caplets (Imodium A-D)<\/p>\n

___Antihistamine<\/p>\n

___Pain Killers\/Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory (Aspirin\/Acetaminophen\/Ibuprofen)<\/p>\n

_Nutritional Needs<\/strong><\/p>\n

___Electrolyte Packets<\/p>\n

___Multi-Vitamins<\/p>\n

_Toiletries\/Hygene<\/strong><\/p>\n

___Adult Diapers<\/p>\n

___Baby Wipes<\/p>\n

___Hand Sanitizer<\/p>\n

___Lip Balm<\/p>\n

___Toothbrushes & Toothpaste (travel size)<\/p>\n

___Women’s Products<\/p>\n

_First Aid\/Other Medications<\/strong><\/p>\n

___Basic First Aid Kits (band-aids, antibacterial ointment packets, etc.)<\/p>\n

___Cough Drops\/Throat Lozenges<\/p>\n

___Foot Anti-fungal Ointment<\/p>\n

CLOTHING & SLEEP UTILITY<\/strong>
\nClothes should be clean and preferably new (or well laundered).\u00a0 For outer clothes, the less conspicuous and the better they blend with the background in an urban environment, the better.
\n_Undergear<\/strong><\/p>\n

___Socks<\/p>\n

___T-shirts<\/p>\n

___Thermal Underwear<\/p>\n

___Underwear<\/p>\n

_Basic Clothes<\/strong><\/p>\n

___Belts<\/p>\n

___Jeans (the sturdier, the better)<\/p>\n

___Shirts<\/p>\n

_Winter Clothing<\/strong><\/p>\n

___Boots<\/p>\n

___Gloves<\/p>\n

___Hooded Pullovers<\/p>\n

___Knit Caps<\/p>\n

___Sweaters<\/p>\n

___Warm Coats<\/p>\n

_Sleep Utility<\/strong><\/p>\n

___Blankets<\/p>\n

___Sleeping Mats<\/p>\n

OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS<\/strong>
\n_Containers\/Transport<\/strong><\/p>\n

___Backpacks<\/p>\n

___Plastic Bags\/Garbage Bags<\/p>\n

___Refillable Containers\u00a0 (Aluminum\/Plastic)<\/p>\n

_Tools<\/strong><\/p>\n

___Can Opener<\/p>\n

___Duct Tape<\/p>\n

___Flashlights<\/p>\n

_Misc<\/strong><\/p>\n

___Clear Plastic Tarp<\/p>\n

___Hand Warmers (chemical activated)<\/p>\n

+++
\n*Cereal Packs (to be added)
\n—
\n**Logan Bread (to be added)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NOURISHMENT (FOODSTUFFS\/DRINKSTUFFS) Foods need to make sense. They need to be “functional foods” which can be easily stored, easily stashed, or easily or eaten “on the go.” Most homeless people have no can openers, no heating elements, limited access to anything which would allow them to use anything with preparation beyond adding water (and even […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9177,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[56,26],"tags":[2032],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6246"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6246"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6246\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6246"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rlsh.net\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}