'Cheeseburger panhandler' had $252

[HM]

In our town, you have to pay for a permit to panhandle. Then you have to wear a reflective vest as well. I pass them on corners all over the place. Same guys and gals day in and day out.

 

[Heidict]

I get hit up where I work, as I am walking to where I park. If I have some change or a dollar or two in my pocket I will give it them.

I don't know these people, I don't know if their needs are legitimate or if they are you going to use it buy drugs, vodka or pay for their lavish lifestyles. All I know it that I am giving this money to them with a giving and helping heart. What they do with it is on them. I am sure that some of that money has been used for things I would not approve of but I'm also sure that some of it has been used to put food on the table or pay a bill.

I also give to my church and to our food pantry.

 

[GinnyEmma]

I get hit up where I work, as I am walking to where I park. If I have some change or a dollar or two in my pocket I will give it them.

I don't know these people, I don't know if their needs are legitimate or if they are you going to use it buy drugs, vodka or pay for their lavish lifestyles. All I know it that I am giving this money to them with a giving and helping heart. What they do with it is on them. I am sure that some of that money has been used for things I would not approve of but I'm also sure that some of it has been used to put food on the table or pay a bill.

I also give to my church and to our food pantry.

 

[ChrizJen]

WOW, I'm totally on the other side of this and have been known to hand out $20 or meals if the person looks like a likely addict. I don't know where you all come from that there is no such thing as real homelessness and despondency but in my world, some people really are in need. The last thing that has ever crossed my mind when looking at a beggar is how great their lives really are I just give, say a prayer and hope it's never me or mine.

It's really really difficult to remain unjaded these days. When EVERY SINGLE time you go to the grocery store, the very same lady aproaches you in the parking lot with the very same story about how her husband beat her, and she just a few hours ago found the courage to leave him, but the kids are still there sleeping, and she just needs to collect enough bus fare to go back and get the kids and get out of town before he gets home from his night job.
It's the same sob story all the time. I used to fall for it. Now I can't. I get up every morning at the crack of dawn and drag myself to work. I pay taxes and I give to charities who actully make a difference in the world. If I'm capable of this, then so is that woman on the grocery store parking lot. I've offered far too many people on street corners a hot meal and been refused because all they want is my money. That tells me that you're not as down on your luck as you'd have me believe...Sorry. I just don't have the patience or the money to give to every single person with a sob story. Because I'm likely going to hear the same sob story from the same person 3 days from now when I come back...

I live in St. Louis, in the heart of the city. I'm not going to pretend that there is not real homelessness. I know there is. But it seems that the real, truly honest homeless people are getting the help they need from the organizations who provide help. I think the ones actually out there begging on the street are the ones who have a place to live. I have a "homeless" person aproach me at just about every single stop light along Grand Ave as I'm driving to work. And I can tell you most of their stories.

I admire those of you who can maintain a decent level of compassion. I really do. But I can't. Perhaps some of you are only aproached by beggars once or twice a week. Well I get hit up every day. Usually once or twice on my way to work, then again on my way home. I don't have a whole lot of disposable income myself. I'd most likely buy a meal for anyone who needs one. But I won't ever again just hand over cash to someone begging me for it.

 

[ChrizJen]

But it's not just money; we were on a quick trip in November, it was VERY cold, and there was a man at an off-ramp whose sign simply asked for food. We had a car full of food, so we gave him some. Including tasty Trader Joes cookies, LOL. As we pulled away, the man tasted one and gave us the thumbs up.

I figure...if that man was a scammer, he was working his butt off, because it was COLD out there just opening our window... I know I certainly wouldn't want to go stand at a cold street corner, embarrassing myself, just so I didn't have to "go to work".

YES! Food is always a different story! I will always offer food to someone who needs it. I just refuse to give cash. And I do have to say that there are FAR less people on the street corners when it's cold or raining. When I see someone out there in the dead of winter or soaking wet from the rain, I usually give them the benefit of the doubt. They're most likely not going to stand out there in those conditions unless they're really down on their luck and in true need.

I find it disheartening that a SW would be so cynical. I bet you are a joy to work with. That is when it is time to retire. LMSW, here.

I honestly didn't find her posts cynical as much as realistic. In today's world, depending on where you live, you could give half of your week's pay if you gave a few bucks to every single person who begged you for it. I know I would. I'd rather give that money to an agency or organization with people who are trained on how to help them, whether they're in need of food, clothing, a place to stay, or drug rehab. I can't (or won't) with good conscience give money to a random stranger when that money could be used to buy drugs or booze.

 

[Ember]

I find it disheartening that a SW would be so cynical. I bet you are a joy to work with. That is when it is time to retire. LMSW, here.

I really dislike posts like this. The PP who is a social worker deals with these situations day-in and day-out. They have most likely seen first hand the difference between handing someone some spare cash, and what an organization dedicated to helping people can do with that same cash. But because you happen to disagree with the PP, for whatever reason, you feel the need to personally criticize them and then tell them they are no good at their job. And you're doing so based on, what, three sentences?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

The way I see it, I have no way of knowing their situation. Maybe they are scamming people. Maybe they are addicts. Or maybe they are truly hungry. if I have some extra money, I will give it away.

 

[SOnotLayuh]

We won't give money - honestly we don't ever carry or use cash anyway - but we will often give factory sealed food or drinks if we have some in the car.

 

[NikitaZee]

The way I see it, I have no way of knowing their situation. Maybe they are scamming people. Maybe they are addicts. Or maybe they are truly hungry. if I have some extra money, I will give it away.

Me too.

 

[Acklander]

The way I see it, I have no way of knowing their situation. Maybe they are scamming people. Maybe they are addicts. Or maybe they are truly hungry. if I have some extra money, I will give it away.

Same here. A few dollars isn't going to break me. I actually got to know one man really well who panhandles regularly near where I worked last summer. He'd make his rounds - stop by the dunkin donuts for a free cup of coffee and they'd usually pass on some of the "mistakes" for him to eat. he'd hang out by the bus stop and hit up people there for cash. Usually the regular commuters would ignore him (since they saw him every day) but he was able to get some cash for some of the not so regulars. I worked at that location just a couple of days a week, and would give him some cash and chat with him for a bit whenever I'd see him. I once brought him some antibiotic creme and bandages for his finger because it looked pretty infected. He would sleep in the woods at night. I'm not sure if he does the same now that it's winter time. I'm sure he spent some of the money on booze - he didn't seem "all there" and I'm sure he had some form of self medicating going on.
I don't work that spot anymore, but whenever I'm in the area I keep an eye out for him just to say hi, and give him a few dollars, an extra coat - stuff like that.

 

[Heidict]

.........I don't work that spot anymore, but whenever I'm in the area I keep an eye out for him just to say hi, and give him a few dollars, an extra coat - stuff like that.

I'm sorry, but that just sounds so bad. Almost like you were working on a street corner.

 

[GinnyEmma]

I really dislike posts like this. The PP who is a social worker deals with these situations day-in and day-out. They have most likely seen first hand the difference between handing someone some spare cash, and what an organization dedicated to helping people can do with that same cash. But because you happen to disagree with the PP, for whatever reason, you feel the need to personally criticize them and then tell them they are no good at their job. And you're doing so based on, what, three sentences?

Licensed Master Social Worker. I see on a day to basis what I available and what is wasted by govt agencies, and charities. I hate working with people like that poster. Cynical and willing to broadbrush a portion of society. You will note that no data has been given to back up her propaganda.

 

[Acklander]

I'm sorry, but that just sounds so bad. Almost like you were working on a street corner.

LOL - nope, I do consulting work, so work at a different location every 2-3 months

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Years ago, in my late teens/early 20's, my friends and I would ride bikes through Philadelphia. Often we'd stop at certain Wawas and we'd get to know the panhandlers just be virtue of seeing them so often. Well one night, we were talking to the one guy, and he admits that he makes a couple hundred bucks a day!

Yeah, makes me wonder what I'm doing wrong, lol...

 

[gottaluvPluto]

Licensed Master Social Worker. I see on a day to basis what I available and what is wasted by govt agencies, and charities. I hate working with people like that poster. Cynical and willing to broadbrush a portion of society. You will note that no data has been given to back up her propaganda.

Wow!

I wonder, do you go out about three to four times a night/day and talk to panhandlers? I do. I try to help them and send them in the direction that will help them in the long run. However, I have also found that most panhandlers make a great living, they will even tell you that.

 

[rluey29]

Licensed Master Social Worker. I see on a day to basis what I available and what is wasted by govt agencies, and charities. I hate working with people like that poster. Cynical and willing to broadbrush a portion of society. You will note that no data has been given to back up her propaganda.

I'm sorry but just because you are a social worker in one place doesn't mean that you know what's going on in every other place. You do seem very judgemental and rude toward that other poster as others have said. Would you like to know what I've seen out of our local service workers in the state that I just moved from??? I saw them take all of the Xmas gifts that they were collecting for needy kids, put them into piles to return to the stores, and get cash or gift cards back to use for themselves. The police are investigating and have fully admitted that they will probably get away with it.

As far as homelessness goes: I've offered food to people who say they're hungry yet they turn it down and are angry that I wouldn't give them money. A friend told me she happened to be standing nearby when a local panhandler's "shift" ended only to have his wife pull up in their Cadillac and overheard him say "Honey, we did good today". I've tried to give clothing and new shoes to the needy kids at my kid's school, yet when inquiring about why they never wore them, they told us that every time someone sent some home their parents would run out to sell them.

For those of you that are giving people money and actually saying that you don't care if they spend it on Booze or drugs...I'm sure that's helping a lot!

 

[IDoDis]

Maybe some of the cynics need to go serve lunch in a soup kitchen type of place and see what it's really like.

Newsflash! Homeless man makes $200 per day! Let's do the math on that: $200 per day = $1400 per week X 4 weeks $5600 per month assuming he/she works 28 days out of the month and takes one day off per week. $5600 x 12 months = $67,200 per year -- Not saying this never happens, but this is certainly not the norm!

I know it's VERY difficult to return things w/out a receipt these days, let alone know which store an item came from -- especially clothing! Hmmm... And selling donated shoes? Please! I can hardly give away brand new shoes in the box let alone sell them! When was the last time anyone here saw a homeless or down & out person standing out on the corner selling a pair of size 2 kids shoes?

I had a student one year who went with the school counselor to the clothing bank. He came back with a brown sack that had some basic clothing (used items except for a package of socks and a package of underwear) plus one new pair of shoes. The boy's mom told me a few days later that the night he brought home his sack of clothes and new pair of shoes, that he slept with the shoes held tightly to his chest like a child would hold a stuffed animal. He then woke up much earlier than usual, dressed himself and put on his new shoes all ready for school an hour earlier than usual! He absolutely loved his new shoes!

So people, please don't stop donating! There truly are people out there who appreciate your generosity.

 

[honugirl]

I've become so jaded lately. It seems like every time I go out, someone is hitting me up for money or something else. If I'm out alone, I always say no. I feel it's safer that way. I don't need to be digging in my purse for spare money right in front of someone I don't know.

The other night it was your average college student age guy hitting me up for money for bus fare because his ride had ditched him and he'd been walking for hours. Um, yeah... Call a taxi dude.

I will donate to legitimate charities though.

 

[Heidict]

I'm sorry but just because you are a social worker in one place doesn't mean that you know what's going on in every other place. You do seem very judgemental and rude toward that other poster as others have said. Would you like to know what I've seen out of our local service workers in the state that I just moved from??? I saw them take all of the Xmas gifts that they were collecting for needy kids, put them into piles to return to the stores, and get cash or gift cards back to use for themselves. The police are investigating and have fully admitted that they will probably get away with it.

As far as homelessness goes: I've offered food to people who say they're hungry yet they turn it down and are angry that I wouldn't give them money. A friend told me she happened to be standing nearby when a local panhandler's "shift" ended only to have his wife pull up in their Cadillac and overheard him say "Honey, we did good today". I've tried to give clothing and new shoes to the needy kids at my kid's school, yet when inquiring about why they never wore them, they told us that every time someone sent some home their parents would run out to sell them.

For those of you that are giving people money and actually saying that you don't care if they spend it on Booze or drugs...I'm sure that's helping a lot!

You are right, I'm sure it is helping a lot. Not all homeless are as rich or as high falutin as the homeless in your area seem to be.

You jump on a previous poster for being judgmental and rude, but yet, you come out with that statement? Sounds like a pretty rude comment to me. Pot,meet kettle.

 

[rluey29]

You are right, I'm sure it is helping a lot. Not all homeless are as rich or as high falutin as the homeless in your area seem to be.

You jump on a previous poster for being judgmental and rude, but yet, you come out with that statement? Sounds like a pretty rude comment to me. Pot,meet kettle.

That's what you call "jumping" on another poster? LOL. I was proving a point that they all should think about. I didn't call people idiots for doing it!! You need to find something better to do with your time than to post empty put downs like this!!