Warning About Permanent Board Sad Stories

[Earstou]

When handing out these cans of food, did she also hand out can openers with them? That would be the most logical reason for why some people didn't take them.

If you don't have a way of opening a can, it makes no sense to accept one.

There are various cans you can buy with pop tops. My husband has a selection he takes to work since there are no lunch facilities there. Chef Boyardee, some soups and chili are a few I can think of.

 

[SaraJayne]

There are various cans you can buy with pop tops. My husband has a selection he takes to work since there are no lunch facilities there. Chef Boyardee, some soups and chili are a few I can think of.

Oops, you're right. Other than condensed soups, I don't buy the other stuff, so I forgot about them.

 

[Burnedout]

Not sure about other citiies, but here in Indy 99% of the "homeless" people you see along the roads or highway exits aren't homeless at all.

There have been stories about the "fake homeless" on the news and I used to work in an office near a major interstate exit and would see these people get dropped off / picked up everyday as they did a "shift change".

So give to them if you want, but just know that there is a chance (at least here....and Im sure other cities too) that you're being scammed. It's likely better to give directly to a shelter of some sort than that person on the side of the road.

I live in a large town and that is he case here too. The places to truly see the need and address them is at the shelters. They usually know the people and their needs. Here at least!

NOT to tell others what they Ought to do.

 

[smidgy]

just to get back on track.. the OP wasn't talking about homeless people using "spare change" for booze instead of food.

she was talking about people posting on the disboards with FAKE stories. lying about their situation in order to get people to send money. when they aren't needy at all; this is their "job", their "income" if you will,scamming others.

at the holidays most people feel the need to help others not as lucky or well off as ourselves. just trying to be careful the person really needs help, and isn't a con artist.

 

[MomToOne]

I'm not feeding anything. I'm giving someone money - what they choose to do with it is their business.

As someone who has seen too many drug deals done on freeway entrance ramps by the supposed homeless who are panhandling, it is NOT just their business. They make it mine, when I have to explain to DD12 that it's not "nice" that the homeless are always shaking hands with each other...

 

[Pugsley]

I do that as well and it's not about making me feel good. I'm not sure why you're classifying it that way.

I don't think the receiver is irrelevant or that a homeless person who buys alcohol or drugs somehow doesn't fit the definition of truly needy. I don't get that.

I give to people on the street and if I'm asked to buy food (which has happened numerous times), I do. In other circumstance, if I happen to hand someone money, I frankly don't care if they use it for drugs or alcohol. I don't live on the street; I have a house with food and money and creature comforts and etc. If someone with none of that wants to spend my dollar on booze, I think it's a very sad situation in a larger sense, but I don't begrudge them their choice, they're adults.

Well, I classified it that way because the person I quoted said "In my humble opinion, the receiving of a gift is a secondary to the act of giving. The choice and actual act of giving is what it's all about for me, personally." In the context of what was being discussed, that sounded to me like it made her feel good to give, and it didn't matter who she was giving to. And that's a valid argument, but I have the right to disagree. To me, it's not about how good it makes me feel to give, it's about actually being able to help someone. And, when I used the word "criminals" I wasn't talking about homeless people or drug addicts, I was talking about the topic of this thread - scammers.

I understand that a whole lot of you feel very strongly about not letting anyone tell you what to do with your money. But seriously, if you were to take a wad of hundred dollar bills out of your pocket and set it on fire in front of a homeless person, do you really think that would be OK? Do you have the right to do it? Yes. Is it a terrible thing to do? Yes.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

bump

I will not be sending anyone ham or American Dolls for Christmas.

I'm such a scrooge, aren't I?

 

[luvthemouse71]

*
Yes, but you are feeding their illegal addiction. There are other ways to help the homeless. See my proverb above. These people need help not a nail to put in their coffin.

I agree. I stopped handing out money to panhandlers a while ago. the first reason being that I don't want to enable someone in their addiction. The second being that not all panhandlers are truly needy. There was a story not too long ago about a panhandler who made $60,000 one year tax free. All from begging.

I give to charity, but mainly to ones that help children or the elderly. And also would not send anyone money on this board, because it's just too easy for someone to be dishonest.

 

[dragonfly57005]

bump

I will not be sending anyone ham or American Dolls for Christmas.

I'm such a scrooge, aren't I?

Hehehe and so am I