They are truly awesome.

I am sure these ladies are working out of a true desire to make a difference, but I can't help but think, "woefully inadequate."

Never underestimate the power of an act done out of kindness.

Give a homeless man a mat and all is well in the world. Leave it to the faithful and all will be perfect. Unless it rains. Or snows. Because that plastic mat won't do one damned thing to keep the man dry or warm.

It is inadequate, no matter the kindness.

what they can. It may be "inadequate" and I'm sure they understand that it's not nearly enough, but they're donating their time and talents towards at least maybe making the homless' life a little less dreary and uncomfortable. Instead of pissing on the effort perhaps we can appreciate what they are doing.

My mother has often joined their efforts, so I know them. My argument is with the notion that faith-based relief efforts are anywhere near adequate. If we don't confront our shame, and instead congratulate ourselves for knitting band-aids, our moral compass needs adjustment.

Goats.

can do easily which fits in with what they're already doing, but all these little nice things don't add up to much when the percentage of people in need just keeps getting larger.

i sometimes have the vision that all these good people crocheting mats for the homeless and buying school supplies at walmart for poor kids & holding bake sales for someone with cancer would join together to ask our leadership why the hell they keep having to do this over and over and over and nothing ever changes.

They might, in fact, be the only ones doing so.

to be doing something like this for our vets--that the "richest, greatest country in the world" (so say the 1%) even has homeless vets--homeless anyone, is one of the greatest obscenities around.

when plastic shopping bags are outlawed- only outlaws will have plastic shopping bags.

scary thought.

As a previous poster said, we as a country should be taking care of our veterans - of all our citizens, including the chronically homeless.

BTW, there are plenty of sources of scrap plastics, and a number of companies who do provide surplus materials, etc. to groups who do charitable projects like this for free or at cost. Even if we totally get rid of plastic grocery bags, there's plastic tape, banners, cleaning bags, etc., which are actually much better quality plastics.

i don't want to see them go away.

Reminds me of the "merry widow."