National Kit Day?

Do We Finally Have a Holiday of Our Own?

According to FEMA's Facebook page, June 18th is National Kit Day, which I would see as a day to build, modify and check your 72 hour kits.  Now, I'm all for a holiday, but a Google search for "National Kit Day" showed just a few links, all to FEMA or other blogs linking to FEMA (except the Urban Dictionary which says National Kit Day is a saying used in England for taking a day off from work for no particular reason).  FEMA is pushing National Kit Day as a day to get a group together and build disaster kits for the poor.

I'm all for storing extra and distributing it as charity during a SHTF scenario.  I've also seen the results of the unprepared either a) waiting for or demanding government aid or b) showing up at a community shelter with little more than the clothes on their backs.  I've often said that by being prepared ourselves, we will reduce the burden on "the authorities" and allow them to dedicate resources to those who won't or can't provide for themselves.  This bit of charity prepping now, before the storm hits, can help further reduce that drain on public resources.

It's a little late this year to do an official kit party on National Kit Day, as they describe on the webpage for the Great Hurricane Blowout, but it could be a great project for a church group, boy scout troop, or a home school organization.  Most of us don't have the spare money to buy a few extra  first class kits from Survival Gear Bags or Essential Packs to give away.  But there are fairly inexpensive kits that we could put together, especially if everyone in the group chips in.

Here's a sample inexpensive kit suggestion:

• Back pack (possibly from the thrift store, or maybe found on closeout at Wal Mart or something)
• A six-pack of water bottles
• Some non-perishable foods
• A couple cans of Chef Boyardee
• A few granola bars
• A few cans of Mandarin oranges
• A small jar of peanut butter
• A small baggie of hard candies
• A plastic spoon/fork/knife
• A pair of exam gloves
• A pair of work gloves
• A Swiss Army Knife knockoff
• A small first aid kit with some assorted bandages, wrappings, alcohol preps, ibuprofen pills
• A length of duct tape
• A length of electrical tape
• A few brochures or fliers from FEMA and your local emergency management office
• A disposable poncho
• A space blanket

This kit could be put together for less than $15 or so.  To reduce the cost or expand how many you can provide, you might even seek out donations from organizations and businesses.  The Hurricane Blowout page suggests getting referred to families who need help by checking with local non-profits and churches.  Someone with this kit might be less likely to depend on public resources during the short term local disasters, and might even be motivated to work toward greater preparedness for greater disasters.