Teaching Compassion Through Action: Our Blessing Bag Project

This past week, our family spent time putting together blessing bags with Shiney, and what started as a simple service activity turned into a heartfelt and eye-opening conversation about homelessness.

Before we packed the bags, we talked about what it means to be unhoused. We discussed how people experiencing homelessness come from all different backgrounds and how each person’s situation is unique. It was important for the kids to understand that while we should always be cautious around strangers, homelessness itself isn’t something to fear—unhoused people are still people, deserving of dignity, kindness, and respect.

We also talked about the practical side of the issue:

What would you need if you didn’t have a house?

What small things can make someone’s day a little easier?

How can our family make a difference, even in small ways?

To help deepen the conversation, we watched a Reading Rainbow video together (if you grew up on Reading Rainbow like I did, you’ll understand why this felt so nostalgic!):

https://youtu.be/O-SIg0QY7pc?feature=shared

After watching, we discussed how it made them feel—what surprised them, what made them sad, and what made them want to help. These conversations are so important. They give our kids the tools to understand the world, build empathy, and learn how to engage with challenges thoughtfully and compassionately.

I’m grateful for moments like these—slow, meaningful, and connected.

And I’m excited to share that Shiney will be posting about our next RACK mission on Instagram soon!