As temperatures drop, many of us continue our lives unphased, enjoying the comforts of warmth indoors, food, and time with family and friends. Yet for countless homeless individuals in our communities, winter brings a harsh struggle for survival. The season presents unique and dire challenges, with hypothermia and frostbite posing constant threats for those living on the streets. Access to food can also become more difficult as cold weather limits the ability to travel and find open resources.
For followers of Jesus, winter provides a special opportunity to live out Christ’s commandment to love our neighbors, particularly the most vulnerable among us. As James 2:15-16 reminds us:
If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?
Words alone are not enough; our faith must move us to action.
What Can You Do to Help Your Unhoused Neighbors This Winter?
1. Donate Winter Essentials.
Warm clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags are invaluable during the winter months. Items like coats, gloves, hats, thermal socks, and scarves provide critical protection against the cold. You can donate these items to local shelters or organizations or keep a supply in your car to share as you encounter people in need.
2. Volunteer Your Time.
Serving a warm meal can bring comfort and hope, especially during the cold winter months. Volunteering is a simple yet powerful way to demonstrate God’s love and meet the most basic needs of those who may feel forgotten. Some of my most precious memories include serving meals to women and children at my local homeless shelter, the Nashville Rescue Mission.
3. Donate to Local Shelters.
Financial contributions enable shelters to address urgent needs, such as purchasing food, paying utility bills to keep facilities warm, or covering staffing and operational costs. Unlike physical donations, monetary gifts provide flexibility, allowing shelters to respond quickly to emergencies and tailor their efforts to serve their guests effectively. Even small contributions can make a significant difference, ensuring that shelters remain open and well-equipped to offer warmth, meals, and hope to those in need.
4. Prepare Blessing Bags.
Assemble care packages with practical items like hand warmers, non-perishable snacks (soft granola bars, or crackers), water bottles, hats, gloves, scarves, and hygiene products (deodorant, lip balm, lotion, and soap). Consider including bus passes or gift cards as well. An additional idea could be to add a resource card, providing information about local shelters and their services. For those in Nashville, Tennessee, I recommend adding the Nashville Rescue Mission’s resource card to your package.
5. Partner with Faith-Based Organizations.
Many faith-based organizations specialize in serving the homeless, combining physical aid with spiritual care. Partnering with these groups allows you to contribute to ongoing efforts that provide holistic support.
One such organization is the Nashville Rescue Mission, a Christ-centered community committed to helping those who are hungry, hurting, and experiencing homelessness. Since 1954, the Mission has provided food, clothing, and shelter to men in Nashville. In 1968, they expanded their services to include women and children. Today, the Mission serves over 800 men, women, and children daily, focusing on restoring individuals physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and socially. Their goal is to restore the whole person through a Christian approach that helps someone experiencing homelessness or struggling with addiction learn how God loves them and gain the biblical insight they need to lead a productive life.
Winter is more than a time of cold; it is a season during which we can live out our faith in powerful ways. By extending compassion to the homeless, we meet immediate needs while testifying to the transformative love of Christ. This winter, as we strive to care for the least of these, we fulfill God’s command and draw closer to Him, becoming a living testimony of His mercy and grace.
ABOUT ELIZABETH MORRISON
Elizabeth Morrison is the assistant vice president of marketing and communications at the Tennessee Hospital Association, an organization dedicated to serving as an advocate for hospitals, health systems, and other healthcare organizations and the patients they serve. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Elizabeth moved to Nashville in 2016 after graduating from Berry College to join the Lifeway Women events team as an intern.
She has served on the board of the Nashville Rescue Mission since 2020 and shares their mission of providing hope for today, hope for tomorrow, and hope for eternity to those who are hungry, hurting, and experiencing homelessness.
Elizabeth and her husband are active members of Midtown Fellowship.
