What would you do if you saw this .

[DMickey28]

There was a guy holding a sign the other day that said he lost his job in the mortgage area 5 months ago. He wasn't asking for money, he was handing out resumes. He got a few calls back for his day in the middle of the city, so hopefully he gets somewhere.

That's pretty creative!!

I live in Boca Raton Florida, West Boca actually which is very suburban. I see the same 4 or 5 guys every single day. I have seen others come and go. There is one guy in particular that I have a soft spot for and I will give him an McD's gift card and stuff. He is very disabled and I just feel like he is honest (I am a sucker). DH gave him $20 the first time we saw him out. I know their are professionals but the ones I see come and go off my corner seem to be the real deal.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I am just tired of beggars....

even the cute little ones selling cookies at the food store.

Mikeeee

 

[suzannen]

Well, being in NYC, I must pass at least 10 each day plus an additional 3-4 on my subway. There is one young woman (who appears in perfect health) with a sign that her wallet was stolen and she needs money to get a train ticket to go back home to her parents. Well, over the past 6 months, I've seen this exact same woman with the same sign in the Flatiron District, Upper East Side, Soho and the West Greenwich Village. Another time following dinner at a restaurant, DH and I left with a huge doggie bag of leftovers. We came across three guys with signs that they were "former injured vets, homeless, no job and starving and only money to eat." We offered them our bag of food - they opened it, smelled it and then asked what it was. When we said "Indian food, " they told us "no thanks, we'd rather pass!"

Seriously, like Camicar said, I'm also in the philanthropy business and the best way to help the people with the most need, donate to local organizations in your area that really do help them directly - like soup kitchens, organizations for runaway teens or Dress for Success to help unemployed women be able to dress to go on job interviews. Unfortunately, the handout situation is too often a scam, plain and simple..

 

[Kit'smommy]

I guess I am not as cynical as a lot of people. I would rather take a chance of "helping" a dozen people that are taking advantage of people's generosity than pass by one person that actually does need help.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

DS and I were on the way to the shoe store yesterday and there was a young guy standing on the corner, smoking a cigarette. The only reason I REALLY noticed him was because I was about to turn right, and he was about to walk across the street so I had to make sure I didn't hit him.

Shoe store didn't have what we needed, so we were back in under 30 minutes. The guy was in the street and had his little sign out, begging for money. He needs bus fare to Houston.

REALLY??

Because THREE WEEKS ago I saw the SAME GUY at another intersection maybe a mile or so up the same road when we were on the way to ballet. In THREE WEEKS this dude hasn't managed to get enough money for a bus ticket to Houston? Hell, he could have WALKED to Houston by now! We also have a city ordinance that prohibits begging in the streets because it is dangerous for the people to dart in and out of traffic like that AND it messes up the flow of cars.

I almost NEVER have cash on hand, but if I do I won't give it to people.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Last week I had a "beggar" at my door. Clean cut kid, raising money for his trip thing. Not even in the school district but he feigns a local "go Wildcats" cheer. Then he I ask where he is from...a richy part of town. Please, just pay the money for your trip.

He said he was raising money with a fundraising group and part of the proceeds were going to buy books for our local Children's Hospital.

That is where he lost me. The last thing Children's Hospital needs are books. What a scam to me.

I told him if he wants to raise money for his trip to do garage sales, car washes, sell candy or something. Using a "hospital hook" really turned my stomach.

 

[Gammaresource]

I guess I am not as cynical as a lot of people. I would rather take a chance of "helping" a dozen people that are taking advantage of people's generosity than pass by one person that actually does need help.

I agree. I've given food on several occasions, and the few bucks I had a couple more. We don't see it a lot here. The nearest homeless shelter is 20 miles away, and our pantries are not open every day.

 

[Colleen27]

I don't give money, but I have been known to give. There was a homeless man that used to hang around near the inner city college I went to. He was clearly not "right" and frequently stayed at a homeless shelter we volunteered at, and apparently he was pretty dependant upon the charity of college kids who had more food than they needed on their meal plans. He never pushed for cash, though. He was happy with the fact that people would bring him an extra order of fries or a burger or whatever from the dining hall on their way out for the evening.

In the specific situation mentioned, I'd give the man two business cards - one for the coordinator of the local food bank/community outreach that our community garden is affiliated with, to help him find the resources he needs to help his family, and one of DH's business cards. If he actually called, DH would give him a shot on the job when we needed an extra guy. It might not be the most steady work, but it would be a fair wage in cash on the days he worked.

 

[luvmy3]

I would give if he was a new guy and looked like he needed help.


If I see them every single day, then no.

I once was getting gas and a very pregnant woman came up and quietly asked for money for gas. She had a car about as old as mine (mine is old), and she didn't look like she was hurting but she claimed her husband left her and her ATM card wasn't working suddenly. I honestly believed her and assumed the worst, he had cleared her out.

I gave her $10. She asked for my address so she could repay me some day. I told her to just pass it on to someone else in the future.

Thats actually a very well known scam. Someone will say they forgot their ATM card and just need gas to get home, blah, blah, blah. They ask for your address so that you assume they really will pay you and low and behold they never send it.
I would never ever give money to anyone that came up to me in a parking lot with some sob story. 99% of the time they are scamming you.

 

[LisaR]

I guess I am not as cynical as a lot of people. I would rather take a chance of "helping" a dozen people that are taking advantage of people's generosity than pass by one person that actually does need help.

You know what is interesting, I have that same philosophy when it comes to government programs to help those in need. I recognize that some will cheat the system but if it can help some people that are truly in need, I support it. Yet, I do not feel the same way when I pass the sign holders on the street corners. Maybe it is because I have seen the same guys for the past five years. My feeling is that there are programs in place that I supported to help them out. Asking for hand outs day in and day out for at least five years seems like a bit much.

 

[Feralpeg]

I guess I am not as cynical as a lot of people. I would rather take a chance of "helping" a dozen people that are taking advantage of people's generosity than pass by one person that actually does need help.

You go girl!

 

[shellybaxter]

Some comedian on Last Comic Standing said he always gives because it could be JESUS IN DISGUISE! Everytime we see these guys my son says "Mom, it could be...

There is a beautiful - thought provoking - song called "What if Jesus came back like that". The singer is Collin Ray. It makes me cry everytime - especialy line that says, "where will he find our hearts are at"

A couple of months ago, a lady approached me in a parking lot. She had a bottle of Windex in her hand and some rags. She asked me if she could clean my windows for whatever I wanted to donate to help feed her family.

I gave her $20 and told her that I hoped things turned around for her. I would not let her clean my windows. I got in the car and said a quick prayer that I would never have to be in such a position.

I try not to judge people. If I can help, I will help. If the urge to do so doesn't come without strings, I won't give.

There but for the grace of God...

That pretty much what I would have done Peg.

I live in a small town (less than 10,000 people) which is has snow and cold weather half the year. We don't get a lot of homeless here. If I see someone here with a sign I give them money, food, a coat if I have an extra, whatever I can spare that I think they need.

If I'm in the city and I walk by someone who asks for money I usually give them a couple of dollars. Like the other poster said, I'd rather be "fooled" twelve times if I can help one.

 

[Kit'smommy]

You know what is interesting, I have that same philosophy when it comes to government programs to help those in need. I recognize that some will cheat the system but if it can help some people that are truly in need, I support it. Yet, I do not feel the same way when I pass the sign holders on the street corners. Maybe it is because I have seen the same guys for the past five years. My feeling is that there are programs in place that I supported to help them out. Asking for hand outs day in and day out for at least five years seems like a bit much.

There will always be people that take advantage of other people. There are people here (Tampa and Brandon) that have been on the same corners for years begging for money from the people coming off the interstate. They don't get my money.

However, I have been giving a few dollars here and there to some of the same homeless people for years that are downtown. Many of them are vets, most are in poor health and most are fairly old. I have talked to a number of them over the years and I doubt that any of them are really capable of holding down a job. Personally, I don't feel comfortable making the judgment call on their needs or ability to get help.

If I see someone I haven't seen before, yes, I would probably offer to do something for them. If they do wrong by taking advantage, I believe they will answer for it someday. I , however, don't want to have to answer for turning my back on someone actually in need.

I am not naive, but I choose to be idealistic about some things.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I would throw him a couple of bucks.

 

[kc10family]

I asked this because I feel rather bipolar on the issue myself.

I have seen people who live out of their cars and those I would buy food for and have.

I have seen the same folks on the same corners of our town (not large and 50 minutes to a big city) many times. Some do look in need and I try to decide what the best thing to do is (food vs money). Others do not look in need at all, these folks I smile and move on.

Now after reading what some of you have said… a small (very small) part of me is feeling rather snarky and thought …… well that could be a way to have spending money for Disney. (I am an addict you know)
Now don’t flip out on me, I could never do it.

 

[bettyann29]

I see people holding up signs all the time in my area.. I saw one the other day that was holding a sign that read "why lie.. I need beer"

 

[EdiePA]

I live in a city and walk to work. So, I see this nearly everyday, especially in the winter months. Because I carry a back-pack, I've started carrying a gallon ziplock bag with a bottle of gatorade, napkins, wipes, snap-top canned fruit, vienna sausages, hard candies and a plastic spoon. Also, I copied out a list of homeless shelters and different agencies that they could contact.

I feel like I'm doing something without just handing out money. And, yes, for some of these people it is a business -- I just don't want to be making that judgement.

Edie

 

[ChristmasElf]

There was a guy here in Florida that would stand out on the corner with a homemade sign saying he was hungry and looking for work.
Turns out he stopped going to his job as he was making more money panhandling!

One day the boss of the panhandlers wife recognized the man and mentioned something to the wife about how sorry he was that her husband was out of work. Mortified the woman left to confront her panhandling husband as to what the heck he was doing on the corner.

Turns out, he would park his fairly nice car in a nearby parking lot, remove his nice work clothes and change into something scruffy looking and go stand on the corner all day collecting money. He supposedly made quite the haul of money this way.

I would have beat him senseless myself.

 

[kingcrab]

if I was in my car keep driving.

in Chicago it is known at certain exits off the expressways the same folks run this scam, and make a pretty good living doing it.

 

[Gagirl69]

I had something happen last week. After my daughter's graduation I stopped at the closest gas station because I was riding on fumes. This is downtown. Not the best area to be in but I needed gas so I stopped. My daughter and her boyfriend were following me. I pulled up to the pump, got my check card out, hopped out of the car and then nocticed a man had his head stuck in the drivers side of my daughter's boyfriends car. I hollered "What are you doing"? He said, I'm looking for some money. I said those are my children and they don't have any money. You need to go away. I was furious. I was not quiet about either. The gas station called the cops on him. I know times are tough all over, but I am not handing over my money to strangers. I will give them a gift card for a fast food restaurant but not cash. I will not support their addiction whether it be alcohol or drugs. Nope, not gonna do it.