Essential Gift Bag Project 2023

What is EGBP?

EGBP or Essential Gift Bag Project is an initiative by a Wayne State student organization aimed at providing essential supplies to homeless people in urban Detroit. MindMeditate WSU is a Wayne State student organization that aims to help students balance their busy schedules with mindfulness and discussions on practical wisdom from ancient philosophies. We have 3 pillars: Virtue (doing good), Mindfulness (being in the present) and Compassion (empathy for others). The EGBP is designed for students to make essential gift bags and hand them out when they see people on the streets. Many of us have had the experience of driving by a sign that says "Need food, please help" or "Have you ever felt invisible before" or "Anything would help, God bless you." Often times we want to help these homeless people, but feel hesitant to give cash as we don't know how it will be used. Sometimes we don't have any change the car and wish that we had kept some to hand out. Regardless of the circumstances, often times we simply drive or walk by ignoring the individual on the street. So our organization has come up with a very simple and effective proposal to this problem, that we hope will maximize the benefits and reduce inconvenience. 

How does EGBP help?

Our solution to this problem is to prepare simple gift bags and store them in the car, so that when we happen to see someone on the street, we can hand them the gift bag and go on to our work/ school. These gift bags will have essential items (listed below) that will help people in the long term. We think that the gesture of giving is more important than giving it to the right person. Part of the reason why we ask our members to hand out the bags personally is to generate the feeling of compassion and kindness. It is easy to delegate this task to a social worker/ big charity organization, but our goal is for students to get first hand experience of giving back to the community. No doubt, these gift bags will help many homeless people get essential supplies. Yet, the indirect goal is for students to develop a mindset of generosity and compassion. This mindset will naturally yield students to do more good in the future, as per their ability. 

Our motto: It doesn't matter how much you give, as long as you give it with your full heart. 

The gift bags will be designed to be simple and made with personalized items from the list below. Each student will have the opportunity to make their own bags and keep 5-10 of them in their car. As MindMeditate members give more bags, they will have the chance to make new ones as needed. The funds for buying supplies will be provided by the organization's board. Thus, the project is autonomously driven by its members and requires little to no financial barriers. Anyone and everyone is free to adopt this idea and start the EGBP in their own organization. It is simple; it's effective; and most importantly, it represents small but personalized acts of kindness in the community. 

What are the items in the bag?

  • Hygiene kits
  • Winter kits
  • Water bottles
  • Food
  • Lip balm
  • Tampons- females
  • Pads- females
  • Toy- kids
  • Bags
  • Bandaids
  • socks
  • emergency thermal blankets
  • Mindfulness brochure (self help)

Donations

All donations will proceed to the EGBP and nowhere else. If you are hesitant to pay online, please email us and we can talk with you about other options. Our email is mindmeditatewsu@gmail.com

© 2022 MindMeditateWSU
All rights reserved.
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