I'll just come to your house when the SHTF

A bold step but Anita. I for one do not think you are crazy. I spent ten years trying to educate the public in my area. Handing out those 72 hour emergency kit book marks provided by the EMO, writing articles in our monthly municipal newsletter and promoting Emergency Preparedness week and participating in it. Did it do any good? I would have to say no. Maybe a few, very few, considered the prospect but I am sure that it was soon forgotten with the trials and tribulations of everyday life and the next episode of dancing with the stars on TV. I am not trying to deter you, just relating my experience. I still think it is a good idea. The more people that become educated in this area the better it is and the more resilient society, our society, becomes.

By doing this you really do put yourself out as a target if the SHTF. Staying low on the radar may be the prudent approach that is preferred by many (most) preppers but eventually I believe that it up to us, who have the concerns, to raise public awareness. It is not an approach for all preppers that is to be sure. How many people view this site before joining? How many that do are reluctant to post? A certain amount of anonymity seems to go with the territory.
So assuming you are going to go ahead with this there are a number of concerns that must be addressed. One that comes to mind is that if we (loose term) start to hand out flyers the content should be thoughtfully put together otherwise there will be a predictably negative response. When was the last time someone handed you a flyer? What was your immediate response?

One possible approach is to build on the existing Provincial and Federal emergency infrastructure. That way we are less likely to be looked on as nutcases or radicals. Use the "If the Government says we should then we probably should" approach. I would love to work on this project too. I think it is important that we get as much input as possible from everyone here to discover possible pitfalls so that we can develop a strategy to move forward.

Anita, you're right...I have heard that sooooooo many times!
The fact is, some of these people would not only be welcome, but are actually included in our preps. Others.......not so much!
As for a handout, I would try to include some of the government info...
Some....OK, LOTS, of people think that if the government says so, it must be true.
Let them know that our government suggests being prepared for a minimum of 3 days without help...then maybe suggest a week.

Real life examples are best IMO. History tells us what we need to know about preparedness.

Let's not forget to include the CPN logo and website!

Good call Denob. In fact that should probably be 1/3 of the flyer. People remember logos more than the information written on a flyer.

I'm sure sometime in the past most have us have heard people say: Oh Great I know where to go when the SHTF. There is much talk on the net about privacy and secrecy and some of you have given up talking to your friends about preparedness issues but I feel a need to teach and help others prepare as part of my prepping. I know that may seem a crazy thing to do but where we live and with our family's involvement in the community at large this makes sense for us. My 1st goal is to teach others to prepare and I am working towards a community response solution but that's another post and still in the very beginning stages.

I'm wanting to write a NICE ( dictionary definition: pleasing; agreeable; delightful 2.amiably pleasant; kind).... article/handout/flyer to give to some of my friends who have made the above statement. I know you won't be able to resist with the NOT NICE comments so fire away but don't expect them to make the final cut 😆 😆 😆

Will the hand out be to only people that you know and have already tried to approach on the subject?
I agree with what has been posted so far. You may want to put in larger letters the "3" rule. I have found that usually shocks people.

During Y2k, we prepped for all family living within 50 kms - they knew we were prepared and warm here so we figured they'd show up on our doorstep if things went down.
NOW, I'm not in a position to prep for them (financially) - they've been encouraged to put up a supply of firewood and food...... but you know....
Anita, you are a good person. I'm sure the 'public' will listen to what the government recommendations are and perhaps some examples of why long term (1 month+) preps are 'advisable'..... small steps.
Something that has worked in the past for me (unrelated to prepping but equally as touchy) is a 'community workshop' where you just speak at your own seminar about 'food storage' etc. with 'audio-visual aids' - you can usually get a 'community-use room' for free somewhere (church, grocery store, etc). Advertise in the local paper, community bulletin boards, etc. 2-3 weeks ahead of time. Keep the presentation to under 1 hour followed by a question period. Many people are SO busy on the weekends but maybe a Sunday afternoon or week night. You might even meet some individuals VERY interested in extended prepping!
Just a thought.....

OP...... I think you should go for it. I do not think you are crazy, just being a good person.

I have tried and continue to try to educate when I can. If they do not want to listen, and this includes family.......... I still tell them nicely. 😉

In the end I also tell them that if the SHTF they are on their own as I am not independently wealthy any more than they are, and will have enough to look after my wife and I, but not them........... so do NOT come crying at my door. It sounds harsh and is meant to be. Do I mean it? Maybe. 🙂 It does help get the point across though.

In the end the "I'll just come to your house" attitude is a reflection of society in general. People have been taught to be dependant and to rely on "something" else to look after them. From cradle to grave no one is on their own. There is ALWAYS some kind of safety net. It can be the government... or you... but someone will take care of them. It is the only way they think. The alternative is unfathomable. I highly doubt you will change the majority of people's long ingrained expectations with a little pep talk.

You are right JAB but even if a few head the call it will have been worthwhile.

Absolutely. Even one "convert" would be worth the effort. I don't hold out much hope generally. People are NOT going to open their eyes. The gov't has done their work well.

In the end the "I'll just come to your house" attitude is a reflection of society in general. People have been taught to be dependant and to rely on "something" else to look after them. From cradle to grave no one is on their own. There is ALWAYS some kind of safety net. It can be the government... or you... but someone will take care of them. It is the only way they think. The alternative is unfathomable. I highly doubt you will change the majority of people's long ingrained expectations with a little pep talk.

Should put this quote in the letter. ^

Something that has worked in the past for me (unrelated to prepping but equally as touchy) is a 'community workshop' where you just speak at your own seminar about 'food storage' etc. with 'audio-visual aids' - you can usually get a 'community-use room' for free somewhere (church, grocery store, etc). Advertise in the local paper, community bulletin boards, etc. 2-3 weeks ahead of time. Keep the presentation to under 1 hour followed by a question period. Many people are SO busy on the weekends but maybe a Sunday afternoon or week night. You might even meet some individuals VERY interested in extended prepping!
Just a thought.....

This has worked for me but at the time I didn't know about "prepping". I have done a few "lectures" on old time crafts, canning, gardening and woodworking. The end result was not that these people would be prepared but it did start a few on the gardening & canning path.

Thought I should add that I have gone into schools for some of the talks as well as with my cub troup.

Great comments and ideas!!

My purpose and target of the flyer will be friends who have shown some interest. A friend made the comment to me last night and it got me thinking again about this project that I had put on the back burner. She made all the right jumps - wow if something bad happened you would have food. You have animals and a huge garden. I know where to come. I told her there might be some room in the barn with the chickens 😆

I am ever hopeful that I will be able to make some kind of dent in the sheeple mindset. I write about food storage on my blog and here at Canadian Preppers in the hope that someone will be able to grasp some of it and run with it. I work with at risk teenagers so I am already familiar with banging my head against a wall 😆 - maybe I just have a hard head!!!

I am considering doing some canning classes and segway into food storage while I'm at it.