It is just now getting really cold in Austin, Texas, and by “really cold,” I mean our daily highs are in the mid-60’s and our lows hover right around freezing. I can hear your chuckles. Still, it’s cold for us; every time I hear the wind whip across my warm window, I think of those without heat or even a home to rest comfortably. I wouldn’t say I was oblivious to homelessness in my community before stepping into my new job nearly five months ago, but I am much, much more aware of it now. I see people’s faces and hear their voices when I think of the homeless now.

"Blanket" by PatB via Flickr

Blankets and coats are a luxury to many in the U.S. We have more of them than we will ever actually need. They are stock-piled in our dressers, thrown across our couches, and collecting dust in the back of closets. Pull them out. Donate them, or carry them in your trunk to hand out the next time you’re approached by a homeless person. It might seem insignificant at first thought; it is not. It is first-class care.