Many people ask us, “What should I do when I see someone at an intersection or on the sidewalks holding a sign?”
Often, the concern is that you don’t want to unintentionally support a harmful habit — but you also don’t want to ignore someone in need.
Here’s our #1 recommendation:
Do not ignore them…Make eye contact, smile, say hello, and ask how they’re doing. That human connection matters more than you might imagine.
I’ll admit — in the past, if I didn’t have cash on me, I’d look away. But on recently, I heard the perspective of someone who had been “flying his sign” all morning. He told me that after two hours, he had only collected $5 — but what hurt even more was that almost no one would look at him. “That just about broke me,” he said. And it broke my heart.
Here are some simple ways to be prepared to help:
- $5 bills – Keep a few in your car to give when you feel led.
- Gift cards – $5 & $10 Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonald’s, or local coffee shop cards are always appreciated (and often mean a warm drink and access to a bathroom).
- Bottled water – Especially in hot weather.
- Non-perishable snacks – Peanut butter crackers, granola bars, fruit snacks, beef sticks, trail mix, or applesauce pouches.
- Hand warmers or socks – In colder months, these can be a lifesaver.
- Travel-size toiletries – Wet wipes, hand sanitizer, or lip balm.
- Encouragement notes – A kind, handwritten message can mean the world.
Even if you have nothing to give physically, you can still give something valuable: acknowledgment.
Looking someone in the eye and offering a genuine “Hi, how are you today?” is a reminder that they are seen, valued, and human.
Let’s be the kind of community that doesn’t just drive by — but sees, hears, and loves our neighbors.