Stoped by a homeless guy

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

So this guy claimed he was homies and living in the church but don't they give vouchers for food.

 

[usd2bmd]

If I have money to spare and someone stops me and says he's homeless I will give him money. I don't care what the real situation is. If he is really homeless I may have just given him money for the only meal he will eat...or I may have given him money for a drink, drugs or a cigarette. Either way chances are he needs the three bucks I'm giving him more than I do.

There is a freeway that runs by my office and there are people living under it. I stop every once in a while and drop stuff over the fence; clean blankets, hats, gloves, scarves are all things I have left for them.

I don't have a lot of stuff, but there are plenty that have less than I do, so if I can help I will. The church may give food vouchers but that doesn't mean he isn't still hungry. My daughter is at the fridge 5 minutes after dinner and I know she is eating.

 

[sam_gordon]

So this guy claimed he was homies and living in the church but don't they give vouchers for food.

Funny answer...

Serious answer...
I don't know of anyone who gives vouchers for food. There are probably churches and soup kitchens in the area where he can get free food. However, they might have rules that you have to be sober to partake.

I tell folks I don't have any cash. If you feel guilty (and there's no reason to IMO), you can buy him a sandwich and give it to him. More than likely he'll throw it away.

 

[Robinrs]

Funny answer...

Serious answer...
I don't know of anyone who gives vouchers for food. There are probably churches and soup kitchens in the area where he can get free food. However, they might have rules that you have to be sober to partake.

I tell folks I don't have any cash. If you feel guilty (and there's no reason to IMO), you can buy him a sandwich and give it to him. More than likely he'll throw it away.

Love the funny answer!!!

The churches in my area have food pantries and occasionally make hot meals.

As for me, I believe in the "least of these" scripture.

 

[willowsnn3]

There are a lot of organizations that give out food to the homeless, but they are not always in the right place at the right time.
My dd has been volunteering at a local church for over a year on Friday evenings where they "feed the hungry". She told me today that the church had to re adjust their budget and that "feed the hungry" was the first thing they cut.

 

[Oodalally13]

The city 30 minutes away from us has a TERRIBLE problem with pan-handlers. They city/police force does NOTHING. They are on EVERY street corner/stoplight and under EVERY bridge. There was traffic backed up at one u-turn under the overpass the other day and we noticed it smelled HORRIBLE. They even stand outside drive thru lines and beg for money. When we rolled up our window as one approached he SHOT THE FINGER at us. While in line we even watched as he left our line and went to the restaurant next door where they gave him free food and drink. We complained to the manager that told us she runs him out of the store if she sees him, but the cops do nothing.

What keeps them hanging out everywhere?? THE FREE HANDOUTS!!!

 

[Robinrs]

The city 30 minutes away from us has a TERRIBLE problem with pan-handlers. They city/police force does NOTHING. They are on EVERY street corner/stoplight and under EVERY bridge. There was traffic backed up at one u-turn under the overpass the other day and we noticed it smelled HORRIBLE. They even stand outside drive thru lines and beg for money. When we rolled up our window as one approached he SHOT THE FINGER at us. While in line we even watched as he left our line and went to the restaurant next door where they gave him free food and drink. We complained to the manager that told us she runs him out of the store if she sees him, but the cops do nothing.

What keeps them hanging out everywhere?? THE FREE HANDOUTS!!!

 

[lizabu]

I don't think most churches give out food vouchers. Usually churches take turns offering a once a week community meal. There are schedules the hand out so people know it's church A on Monday, church b on Tuesday and so on.

 

[Cantw8]

The city 30 minutes away from us has a TERRIBLE problem with pan-handlers. They city/police force does NOTHING. They are on EVERY street corner/stoplight and under EVERY bridge. There was traffic backed up at one u-turn under the overpass the other day and we noticed it smelled HORRIBLE. They even stand outside drive thru lines and beg for money. When we rolled up our window as one approached he SHOT THE FINGER at us. While in line we even watched as he left our line and went to the restaurant next door where they gave him free food and drink. We complained to the manager that told us she runs him out of the store if she sees him, but the cops do nothing.

What keeps them hanging out everywhere?? THE FREE HANDOUTS!!!

Maybe next time you have an unpleasant experience with the homeless, try saying to yourself "There but for the grace of God go I". Perhaps that will give you a little more compassion and less hostility

 

[Maggie7313]

I pass a number of homeless between the train station and my office. I won't give cash but I usually have a stash of granola bars that I distribute if I am stopped. I occasionally give out a sandwich or fruit or the entirety of my lunch.

I've had conversations with a few "regulars". Some of their stories are heartbreaking.

 

[Cantw8]

I pass a number of homeless between the train station and my office. I won't give cash but I usually have a stash of granola bars that I distribute if I am stopped. I occasionally give out a sandwich or fruit or the entirety of my lunch.

I've had conversations with a few "regulars". Some of their stories are heartbreaking.

That's the thing, of course there are those that are just scamming for a free handout but then there are those that are in that situation due to unfortunate circumstances. Given the economic instability of this country right now, that could be any one of us. Not everyone has savings or 401ks to fall back on when financial hardship strike

 

[Robinrs]

Maybe next time you have an unpleasant experience with the homeless, try saying to yourself "There but for the grace of God go I". Perhaps that will give you a little more compassion and less hostility

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

The food pantry at my church does collect food donations to help those in need. But the issue is that the donations aren't necessarily "homeless friendly".
Lots of items require cooking or can openers so not very helpful.

There is another church that I visit because my friend is the pastor and it's truly sad the situation these people are in. A lot of them have a mental illness that prevents them from living a normal life even if the housing is offered to them. And those that get government checks, because they have mental illness they can't manage the money to live appropriately, and are very much taken advantage of. It is super sad. I honestly don't understand it.
Well I do. The programs that were in my town and the next got financial cuts so now these people have no where to go for the right help.

There is a coming together of all denominations/religions in my town to start some kind of taking turns to provide meals for those families with children. I hope that somehow the adults without children get some help too.

The part that baffles me is I'm a healthy person and have a home and food and doctor care. When I get sick I've all I can do to take care of myself. How do these people not get extremely sick and die?

 

[kmb584]

The city 30 minutes away from us has a TERRIBLE problem with pan-handlers. They city/police force does NOTHING. They are on EVERY street corner/stoplight and under EVERY bridge. There was traffic backed up at one u-turn under the overpass the other day and we noticed it smelled HORRIBLE. They even stand outside drive thru lines and beg for money. When we rolled up our window as one approached he SHOT THE FINGER at us. While in line we even watched as he left our line and went to the restaurant next door where they gave him free food and drink. We complained to the manager that told us she runs him out of the store if she sees him, but the cops do nothing.

What keeps them hanging out everywhere?? THE FREE HANDOUTS!!!

What an awful view. Where would you like them to go? The last I checked Homeless City, USA wasn't listed on the map. It's an epidemic affecting nearly every city in this country. If I'm able to provide a free meal to someone in need, you bet I do, because if I were in their shoes I would hope someone would do the same.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I was not trying to be mean neither was dh, we decided this summer that I was going to switch to a debt card and he did that a ling time ago, long story short if I physical had anything I would have given it to him so he could get some food.

 

[Southernmiss]

After volunteering in our local soup kitchen and visiting the salvation army in April, there is no way the majority of the homeless in their right minds would volunteer to be homeless.

I witnessed a very sick man coming in for a meal while coughing up blood. He took his tray outside to not offend the others. All of the folks coming in were so grateful for the food and were so polite and gave a smile to all.

We then visited the salvation army where they open cold weather shelters. One large room with a sheet hung as a curtain for 'privacy'and the men sleep on one side and women on the other. Homeless can come in and shower and do laundry three days a week.

I don't like to see panhandling, but really there are so many different dimensions to homelessness that I don't know what the answers are.

 

[Geoff_M]

That's the thing, of course there are those that are just scamming for a free handout but then there are those that are in that situation due to unfortunate circumstances.

There's a REAL easy way to bypass the guilt of dealing with these people that quickly separate those in need from the apparent sea of scammers: Offer to buy them what they say they need the money for directly! Three weeks ago, as I walked into a convenience store attached to a gas station a man stopped me as said "Can you spare some money? I need some food." I told the guy I'd be happy to go into the store and buy him some food and asked what he wanted. He quickly said "No, no, no... I need some money." I said "Sorry, don't carry cash." If he had said "Some stuff to make sandwiches and some milk, please" or something like that I'd have bought it in a heartbeat. This technique will give the people what they say they need, without the fear that your money will go to booze or meth.

I have had instances where people actually accepted my offer to directly fulfill their request. A very happy middle-aged woman who apparently really DID need a couple gallons of gas to get home when her car was on "E" and she had no wallet comes to mind.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

There's a REAL easy way to bypass the guilt of dealing with these people that quickly separate those in need from the apparent sea of scammers: Offer to buy them what they say they need the money for directly! Three weeks ago, as I walked into a convenience store attached to a gas station a man stopped me as said "Can you spare some money? I need some food." I told the guy I'd be happy to go into the store and buy him some food and asked what he wanted. He quickly said "No, no, no... I need some money." I said "Sorry, don't carry cash." If he had said "Some stuff to make sandwiches and some milk, please" or something like that I'd have bought it in a heartbeat. This technique will give the people what they say they need, without the fear that your money will go to booze or meth.

I have had instances where people actually accepted my offer to directly fulfill their request. A very happy middle-aged woman who apparently really DID need a couple gallons of gas to get home when her car was on "E" and she had no wallet comes to mind.

I love that idea and i would have done this yesterday but we where not near a store

 

[DisReno]

I heard Joyce Meyer speak one time and she keeps a small stash of McDonald's Gift cards in $10 increments on her and gives those out to the homeless. I think it's a great idea but I do usually just give cash.

My father was one of the highest ranking executives at IBM back in the day and he ended up homeless and broke on the street because of alcohol. He died at 58.

I always try to give if I have cash available. Of course, there aren't that many where I live, and I realize I could not do this if I lived in a big city and passed one every few feet.

 

[Acklander]

If I have money to spare and someone stops me and says he's homeless I will give him money. I don't care what the real situation is. If he is really homeless I may have just given him money for the only meal he will eat...or I may have given him money for a drink, drugs or a cigarette. Either way chances are he needs the three bucks I'm giving him more than I do.

There is a freeway that runs by my office and there are people living under it. I stop every once in a while and drop stuff over the fence; clean blankets, hats, gloves, scarves are all things I have left for them.

I don't have a lot of stuff, but there are plenty that have less than I do, so if I can help I will. The church may give food vouchers but that doesn't mean he isn't still hungry. My daughter is at the fridge 5 minutes after dinner and I know she is eating.

I've worked with a group that drops off supplies as well - something very helpful beyond the warm clothes/blanket supplies that we bring in is baby wipes, bandages and anti bacterial cream. What would be a minor cut to you and me can turn into something nasty when you have a hard time washing.