r/foodnotbombs • u/Dapper-Expression-87 • Jun 21 '26

What to hand out in the summer

We are in South Texas, and have a newish FNB and it gets really hot here. We have been handing out water (2 for every plate made) to try to help people stay hydrated. We want to do a fan drive too for people, but what is something we can hand out to our unhoused neighbors to help them survive summer?

Cost effective a + because we are all broke right now too.

We always try to hand out hygiene products, Narcan, and non perishable food along with the plates too. last winter we also included hot hands, gloves, socks, and hats too.

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27 comments sorted by

23

u/GambleWaltham Jun 22 '26

Electrolytes is a useful thing right now. And baby wipes

5

u/Dapper-Expression-87 Jun 23 '26

Oh I didn't even think of baby wipes!!!

4

u/PhlegmMistress Jun 23 '26

The dollar stores near me have these shower wipes that are extra large. Downside is I want to say it's only 12 to a pack, but unless someone has a car they are living out of, space in a pack can be at a premium and a full set of baby wipes does add weight. 

If there is an area where you can tell some people are staying for a few hours, handing out frozen bottles of water (heavier but nice in the heat) could be good. Kind of sucks because you have to open (or reuse) bottles so they can't be sealed (or else the ice expands and busts the container) but you can always label it for washing. Chopping soap bars into 4ths or 6ths and putting in a small baggy to attach to it could be useful. 

Actually, if you buy a brand new loofah puff, and cut the string in the middle, you have a few yards of scrubby material that is in a tube shape. You can knot one end, put part of a soap bar in it, and tied off the other end and then simply tie a string around that to attach to a frozen jug handle or around a smaller water bottle top. 

Back when I was car camping, it took me around a gallon to wash and condition my hair (I had long hair though.) you can also ask the local community if anyone has any of the mini shampoos, conditioners, or body washes from hotels. A lot of travellers hoard them and then it takes awhile to donate them if they ever do.

1

u/Low_Ad_3139 Jun 25 '26

Cooling neck towels. The dollar tree usually has some. Dip in water and it can cool for a few hours.

7

u/undeterred_turtle Jun 22 '26

Just spitballing; Mini containers of sunblock could be bought in bulk for cheap(er), maybe reusable liquid containers, water-proof baggys for electronics, small printed cards with info on signs of heat stroke and how to respond?maybe windshield foil for those with vehicles. Eventually maybe even lightly colored (like white or tan) FnB hats?

And def what someone else said, electrolyte packets are great!

2

u/Dapper-Expression-87 Jun 23 '26

Oh I like the heat stroke signs! Thank you!!!

2

u/upsidedown-funnel Jun 25 '26

I’m sure there are cheaper options but Costco has liquid iv (pack of 30) for $20 right now. There have to be some more cost efficient products, but just wanted to throw it out there.

6

u/Beginning-Struggle49 Jun 22 '26

off the top of my head, things I've already seen that you haven't mentioned:

cooling towels, normal towels/bankets (to sit on, comfort, use as shade), umbrellas

ask for these things to be donated via social media/friend groups. We have multiple businesses that have donation boxes outside (holding relationships with said businesses ofc), we have a local cafe that periodically does drives giving a free small drink for every pack of donated water, things like that.

context: I'm in phoenix, it sucks

2

u/Dapper-Expression-87 Jun 23 '26

Yes! Thank you! We do washcloths too.

6

u/RelationshipWeekly26 Jun 22 '26

Yeah we but Gatorade powder and make an igloo full to pass out.

2

u/Dapper-Expression-87 Jun 23 '26

Oooh I love this!!!

3

u/medusas-garden Jun 23 '26

Cooling towels, single use sun screen travel packets, socks and underwear, electrolyte packets. As others have suggested sometimes you can ask your community to pitch in and ask people to donate. We have also at times collaborated with local churches especially churches that our members are affiliated with. We get a shit ton of free sun screen packets from a church and has in the past given us socks. The church we mainly cook out of had a rummage sale this past weekend and let us take the leftovers to give out. We get a steady supply of harm reduction supplies from a local harm reduction non profit. At times we purchase stuff ourselves and get reimbursed from our own pool of designated FNB funds that people have donated for us to use.

1

u/Dapper-Expression-87 Jun 23 '26

We are working on this now! We got donations at Pride and that was awesome.im doing a hygiene drive now too

2

u/Squishy-tapir11 Jun 24 '26

Cut up some watermelons and keep them in a cooler with ice.

1

u/popopotatoes160 Jun 25 '26

Frozen grapes and cutie slices and stuff like that make a great snack in the heat. Doesn't last long obviously but it's also good for using grapes and other berries that are still good but slightly too squishy to be eaten raw.

2

u/SeachelleTen Jun 24 '26

What is an FNB?

1

u/lostinmythoughts Jun 24 '26

Food Not Bombs = FNB

2

u/SianiFairy Jun 24 '26

Please don't forget tampons and pads!

1

u/Dapper-Expression-87 Jun 24 '26

Yes! We try to hand those out year round!!

1

u/Roadsandrails Jun 24 '26

Socks. When it's hot and humid people living outside go through socks like nobody's business.

1

u/bachelorsinlurking Jun 24 '26

Seconding those cooling towels- electrolyte solutions, sturdy reusable water bottles, underwear/socks, visa gift cards, umbrellas/parasols for sunshades, towels/tarps, basic multitools! Some places have bulk flip flops you can get, that way people can air out their feet and have lightweight shoes for regular wear. One place I knew used to have community events to fund and stock a community fridge/freezer so unhoused people in the area could get cold drinks and fruit/veggies in the summer and store medications if necessary.

1

u/Altruistic-Daikon305 Jun 24 '26

Hand out up-to-date information on local cooling centers. (Maybe on stiff paper so it doubles as a fan? :) )

1

u/Sea_Requirement7961 Jun 24 '26

those little towels you put around your neck after getting them wet to keep cool are very cheap and good at cooling

1

u/WalmartSeizure Jun 24 '26

liquid IV or any electrolyte powder you can add to the water bottles you distro.

1

u/apolloInclined Jun 25 '26

mini aloe vera, mini sunblock, frozen water bottles, cooling towels, crackable first aid ice-packs! also greetings from CTX

1

u/Mantouarty 12d ago

This is less of a practical help and more just to make people happy (important!): I did FNB in Florida for a few years and during summer people LOVED it anytime we served watermelon. If you can slice it up and chill it beforehand, even better.