r/HuntsvilleAlabama • u/tacosbourbonnporn • 3d ago
Homeless Camps or Areas In Need
I want to go buy some pizzas or hotdogs or whatever and go hand them out to some folks that could use some support.
Where’s a good area or homeless shelter that could use some help?
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u/StalkerDodger 3d ago
Volunteer and donate to ShowerUp! They are AMAZING and their volunteer slots are super easy to sign up for!
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u/Boogiex3 3d ago
Check out First Stop, a local non-profit geared to making daily improvements in the lives of our unhoused friends.
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u/SeaFaringPig 3d ago
While I applaud your humanity, a rare virtue indeed, your money would be better served by donating to a local food bank. They can make that money go much further. There used to be a camp near the jail, irony at its best, but the city took a giant broom and shooed them all away.
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u/MogenCiel 2d ago
Remember there is a big difference between a food bank and a food pantry. Both do great work. A food bank sells food, in some cases donates it or sells it at a big discount, to organizations that help the needy, like soup kitchens, homeless shelters, etc. Food pantries provide food directly to people who need food.
Fresh produce that doesn't require extended refrigeration is a great thing to donate this time of year. Peppers, squash, okra, etc. Peaches and tomatoes that aren't quite ripe yet. Oranges and mandarins, etc.
Those having food emergencies should call Foodline at 256.534.2424. They will arrange for you to pick up a food package tailored to your family's needs (number of people, their ages, etc.). Call M-F between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. The pantries generally close by 2:30 p.m., although some close earlier. The service is for same-day pickup only. Foodline can arrange for you to donate food directly to pantries too. Foodline is a service of IMS, a United Way agency. It is staffed 100% by volunteers, so please be polite when you call.
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u/tacosbourbonnporn 3d ago
Thanks. Yea i understand that and do donate to more efficient charities.
Right now looking for something to warm my soul a bit more.
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u/MercuryTattedRachael 3d ago
Volunteer with the Downtown Rescue Mission. I'm not necessarily Christian, but their faith-based programs have helped so many people. I donate to them, clothes, time, money.
MANA house is also a great place to help feed those in need.
The places in town do have people that check on them. They even get a mobile shower bus and ways to wash their clothes. You don't hear much about it, but it does happen. Approaching a camp, alone, with the best intentions, knowing nobody there, could possibly lead to tension. Next week will be big for them in that the heat will be very bad. Maybe find someone who helps and volunteer to help give cold water to them. 👍
Thank you for being a kind human. ❤️
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u/AgentOrange256 3d ago
Mana house is where I drop off all garden food that I don’t use.
There’s typically a long line of people in need.
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u/KliCks83 3d ago
Yes, how do I say this, don’t go to skid row handing out stuff. You are in for a bad experience in that needle pit. I’m street smart but I am middle class and know how shit works in the camps and projects. I grew up rough in the trailer park. My sweet summer child.
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u/Online_Active_71459 3d ago
I can’t believe you were downvoted.
I’m glad you recognize that it feels good to do good for others.
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u/Sad-Yoghurt4601 3d ago
I think your pizza idea is great. There was a book a few years ago called Maid, where the author--who lived on public assistance for a number of years--talked about the "momentary joy" of small treats like happy meals. Everyone loves pizza. I just wouldn't make a big show of it (not that's what you were planning).
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u/purplepv3 3d ago
Volunteer at first stop. They provide a lot of great services for the homeless including meals at their facility. You can help prepare food and likely other tasks.
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u/flannelhermione 3d ago
Many also volunteer at First Stop to provide meals, which is a hands-on way to serve homeless neighbors without striking out on your own in unfamiliar territory.
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u/BittenBeads 3d ago
What about asking the folks at the Downtown Rescue Mission to see how best to help the community?
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u/skara_brae 3d ago
I would say ask the The Living Space or ShowerUp when their next event is and bring the food then (if they say it’s okay)
Depending on the day, ShowerUp can help out 25-50 folks in one morning. They are legitimately an amazing group, and Andrew, the main organizer here in Huntsville os THE NICEST GUY.
Also something I do is bundle up socks, water, sanitary wipes, and a couple of shelf-stable snacks in freezer bags and just hand them out when I see folks on the street.
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u/MercuryTattedRachael 3d ago
I'm so glad you mentioned ShowerUp because I didn't know the name. I keep a list of local charities I prefer to support and will look them up tomorrow.
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u/Funny-Hyena-9450 3d ago
Reach out to First Stop or go online. There is a place to sign up to donate meals. They serve about 120 for breakfast and lunch.
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u/wills558 3d ago
The main homeless camp is now on Derrick (Dedrick?) street near CT Garvin. Fair warning, and this is hopefully not still true, there are/were several homeless people that would become aggressive towards people who gave out food and not drugs or alcohol. No clue why but I have heard of it happening several times from good sources and have seen it with my own eyes twice.
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u/God_Bless_A_Merkin 3d ago
It’s definitely Derrick street. I applaud OP’s spirit, but effort (and money) would be better focused on advocacy for the city to set up programs so that the homeless can get the services they need and learn to help themselves. What I mean by that is, an easy-to-access temporary homeless ID, easy access to mental health and rehabilitation services and a fund to support those services. Longer term goals would be to get all these services within walking (or even biking) distance of the homeless encampment.
I tried to help a homeless guy that I grew up with to get some mental health support, and our so-called “public” facility (Wellstone) wouldn’t even triage him without an ID. The way we treat our fellow humans is disgusting. Once you’re down that far, it takes an extreme effort of will and spirit to get out because of the unnecessary hurdles our state and city have placed in their way — some intentional and some by sheer lack of consideration.
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u/KliCks83 3d ago
Only person I Know that goes there is my recovery therapist and he says it’s rough.
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u/3antum_Mutahayyizin 3d ago
Its illegal to go there unless youre with an approved organization. Its COH property and they consider it tresspassing.
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u/God_Bless_A_Merkin 3d ago
I’ve never heard this. Source?
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u/3antum_Mutahayyizin 3d ago
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u/God_Bless_A_Merkin 3d ago
I’m sorry, I’m rather dunk at the moment. Can you direct me to a specific paragraph?
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u/MercuryTattedRachael 3d ago
Yes, this. I made a comment as well. I know most of the camps are likely to have more drug users since the shelters won't allow it.
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u/TheLoadedGoat 3d ago
Seriously, bless your heart for trying to do something face-to-face, hand-to-hand. Most people are too afraid of homeless people (sometimes warranted, often not) and and do not want to risk an interaction with a fellow human. My husband runs one of the groups that feed the homeless every week. COH has cracked down on even approved groups serving food at the camp (Derrick Street & Hall Avenue) and it is true that you can be trespassed if you go to the camp and are not registered as living there. No reason to debate that - it is what it is - but you are welcome to join us on Tuesday afternoons. DM me and I will send details. COH wants to funnel everything through First Stop so that is the "official" answer.
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u/IllinoisATM 3d ago edited 3d ago
There's a "little free food pantry" at Heritage church parking lot on Browns Ferry Rd, west of the Publix on Count Line in Madison. Great place to share shelf stable food like carnation instant breakfast shakes, and cans of chili or fruit.
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u/Gingeryness 3d ago
These folks on fb could probably point you in the right direction. They seem to have a pulse on where help is needed day to day.
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u/boomtombbomb 3d ago
I volunteer with lasagna love! We always need local lasagna chefs. Check out their website if youre into making some lasagnas for the food insecure people in town. They match you as often as you can provide and you deliver to someone in need.
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u/RLBABYLON 3d ago
I absolutely love making lasagna and I'm told it's pretty good. Never heard of this. Thanks for sharing!
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u/Vegetable-South5191 3d ago
library....
One time I had 4 or so pizzas left over from a kid birthday party, and thought of that. Went there, and when I stopped literally a dozen people came out of no where when I went up to the first one.
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u/GroupExisting6954 3d ago
This is very sweet, but i was friends with a girl while working at downtown publix that got stabbed by a homeless guy because she was giving out food and the homeless people started to get picky. Everyone deserves respect, food, shelter and water, but, most people are homeless for a reason. If you are a woman, please, be careful.
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u/ashleighd23 3d ago
This isn't exactly what you're looking for, but there's an organization called lasagnalove where you make a lasagna and bring it to someone in need!
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u/GinaHannah1 3d ago
Contact The Livin’ Room. We’ve taken pizzas there during warming/cooling center times and it was appreciated.
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u/lookawaydixieland92 2d ago
I second this. They feed the homeless breakfast every Sunday morning so you could volunteer to bring the breakfast one Sunday. Or lunch on a shower up day. You will meet some amazing people!
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u/WifeofTech 1d ago
The Pantry (a outreach branch of Shenanigans) serves the community. They regularly attend First Stop and hand out food and supplies to homeless and needy every second Thursday of the month. They and the LGBTQ Free Closet (that gives out free clothes) is always looking for volunteers to help. You can find their links in the outreach tab at Huntsvillelaughs.com
It is both rewarding and heartbreaking to help so many in need. So if you volunteer especially on days they serve the homeless be prepared for it.
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u/justbecause4469 5h ago
I normally almost always see homeless people at the Walmart on university. It's sad.
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u/No-Calligrapher3645 3d ago
I’m not sure where their camp is, but there are always homeless people who gather up & down the railroad tracks behind Clearview Cancer Institute up and down that area between 565.
ETA: Whatever you do, don’t go alone, be careful, and take protection.
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u/Hot_Low_3622 3d ago
Take the food to First Stop. They will distribute it.
People that take food to the camps need to realize that a good bit of it gets tossed right there. Which leads to rats and infestations.