Do you give to people on the street who ask for money?

Not very often because I can pretty much tell if they're going to spend it on drugs or alcohol.. however yesterday, there was a guy sitting on the street corner in the high heat , he was drinking water that people had obviously donated , he was clean ( as clean as they can be when they're on the streets)..he had his big bag with all his things and sleeping mat rolled up next to him, and he asked everyone very politely who passed him if they could spare change.. so ( much to my husbands' displeasure)... I gave him a few pounds in change....He not only thanked me but turned his head and said 'thank you sir'' to my husband who was standing a few feet up the road..
 
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Irwin said:
No, I never carry any cash so even if I wanted to, I couldn't.
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I hear you...I hardly ever carry cash anymore either.. I still do for lottery tickets :D but I do not spend a lot..I figure if it is meant to be, 1 or 2 tickets will do it...:)
 
Serenity4321 said:
I often do. I know that some say they go buy food for them instead of giving out cash, but I just think...if they are that desperate why not give them a moment of happiness.
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Food is usually not what they want. Drugs & alcohol are what they want. And by giving them money, instead of food, you are helping to destroy them.
And you can easily tell the difference. If you offer food & they don't seem to care, it's obvious. Or, (as often the case with me), they'll ask for a few bucks for food, & when I say, "I'll buy you some, what would you like?" They'll say, "Naw....just give me a few bucks."

We can't expect a drug addict to say, "Hey, can you spare a few bucks for crack?"
 
While undergoing radiation for breast cancer, I drove 6 entire weeks to a neighboring city and would see a homeless man under the expressway. I started making a lunch of a sandwich, cookies, chips and a juice and would hunt for him til I found him prior to getting the radiation. I felt better that he was getting something to EAT. There were days that I didn't find him.
 
win231 said:
Food is usually not what they want. Drugs & alcohol are what they want. And by giving them money, instead of food, you are helping to destroy them.
And you can easily tell the difference. If you offer food & they don't seem to care, it's obvious. Or, (as often the case with me), they'll ask for a few bucks for food, & when I say, "I'll buy you some, what would you like?" They'll say, "Naw....just give me a few bucks."

We can't expect a drug addict to say, "Hey, can you spare a few bucks for crack?"
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Yeah I have thought about that but still figure if they are THAT desperate why not give them a moment of pleasure in their life...maybe it's wrong but maybe not everyone asking just wants drugs or alcohol.
 
I don't drive much anymore and when I did I did not see many here where I live. I know in other parts of Houston there are large groups of them under the freeways. I had a lot of quarters in my console and the few times I saw one I would give him or her a couple of dollars in change. I don't have cash anymore.
 
My preference is to donate to a charity. They can buy more for the money. If the panhandlers find prime locations, they can be aggressive if you’re not donating. Some cities have a ‘parking’ meter designed for donations. I like that idea, though I never carry any cash any more. We have large numbers of street people here.
 
Serenity4321 said:
I often do. I know that some say they go buy food for them instead of giving out cash, but I just think...if they are that desperate why not give them a moment of happiness.
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Yes, me. One time I didn't have any money to give him, but I did have food in a bag. So, I motioned for him, and reached back and gave him the food. He smiled and continued holding his sign. It was a cooked chicken and garlic bread ready to bake.
 
win231 said:
Food is usually not what they want. Drugs & alcohol are what they want. And by giving them money, instead of food, you are helping to destroy them.
And you can easily tell the difference. If you offer food & they don't seem to care, it's obvious. Or, (as often the case with me), they'll ask for a few bucks for food, & when I say, "I'll buy you some, what would you like?" They'll say, "Naw....just give me a few bucks."

We can't expect a drug addict to say, "Hey, can you spare a few bucks for crack?"
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That is so true. My years of driving over the road I would pull into truck stops and they are noted for panhandlers. Many times I bought them a meal. I would never give them money.
 
The last time I gave one of the "destitute" people any money, it was one of those "out of gas and money" scams. A woman came up to me in a Walmart parking lot and said she had run out of gas and didn't have any money to get back home to Colorado Springs. I think I gave her five dollars. A few days later, I saw her walking around the same parking lot, obviously scamming others. I felt like following her around so I could tell people it was a scam, but I didn't.

My brother-in-law's neighbor goes down to the corner every day with a cardboard sign and pretends that he's homeless so people will give him money.

I think you can tell who's really homeless. They're dirty and have ripped clothes.

What gets me is the "homeless" people who smoke. A pack of cigarettes these days is over $6.00! Some of them have cellphones. I just stare at them and they generally don't bother me.
 
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A couple of years ago, I posted about an interesting date I had:
We were going to a movie & decided to buy snacks at a nearby market first. While I parked, a couple approached my car & the guy said, "Can you spare some change for food?" I said, "I don't have any cash." They both looked underweight - like they hadn't eaten for weeks.
My girlfriend asked why I didn't help them. I said, "I don't think they need food; they look strung out & need drugs or alcohol."
She asked, "How do you know?, they look like they're starving." (She was rather naive)
I said, "I have a great idea. Let's follow them around & see what they buy after their collection."
She said, "Good, you'll see how wrong you were to be so judgmental."

We watched them ask other people for money, then they went into the market. My date said, "See? They're buying food."
I said, "Lets see what they come out with."
They came out of the market with a big bag, we followed them to the side of the building & drove by slowly as he pulled out a six-pack of beer & 2 bottles of wine out of the bag.
We missed the movie, but it was worth it.
 
No I don't and specially when they are young. Most of the younger ones have warrants. Alcoholics will buy booze before food. I can't stand the ones that have "GOD BLESS" signs. You are not helping them at all when you give them money. Give your money to good causes.
 

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