Care Package 3.0: Now With More Goodies!

Hot off the heels of the success of Operation Cozy Toes for the Homeless Bros, I'm back with the new and improved Care Package 3.0! I had some ideas for other good stuff I should include, and found a container the exact right size such that 10 will fit snugly into the trunk area.

Here's a look at what all I could fit into the larger containers. These hold more stuff but are a bit less convenient as I cannot carry 3 of them in my backpack, like I could with Care Package 2.0. I believe the size increase is worth it however for reasons which will become clear shortly.

Beneath the layer of hygiene products (which includes an electric toothbrush), you can see the contents are mostly the same as Care Package 2.0. I decided against including a multi-tool like I'd originally planned due to the epidemic of bike theft in Portland, but there's some other useful additions here.

This is one of them: A single 18650 power bank, with an NCR18650B inside. That's a top quality cell that will last them many years. This power bank is intended to enable them to carry some electricity with them to charge their phone with so they don't have to leave it plugged in someplace public. It should charge a modern smartphone about once.

There's an umbrella now! So they can stay dry in their bivy sack despite their head and maybe arms poking out the top. It rains a great deal in Portland and the ability to stay dry goes a long way towards staying warm, and generally diminishing the misery of exposure to the elements.

This is a satisfactory improvement on Care Package 2.0 I think. It's not a solution for homelessness, only the Housing First movement is, but I will at least have something to offer homeless people when I pass them besides money, which I am against giving out because of what it may be used for.

As there's still a bit of room left, I was thinking of picking up some USB rechargeable flashlights to tuck in there as well, but I spent my last few dollars for this week adding the hygiene products, so it may have to wait a few days. I'll also need to print out updated instructions since there's so many new items included.

I'll keep you posted about it and hope this has inspired you to do something similar.

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^{Stay Cozy!}