Street people asking for money

When I had a car and it was around Christmas time one year I gave a man with a sign a twenty, I had some extra money at that time. He got a big smile on his face and that made me happy.

I have been at BK eating a sandwich in my car when some have come up to me, dressed very well, asking for money and I told them I didn't have anything. Not far from the truth, too, as I don't have a lot. I felt that it was his job begging for money but had a feeling he didn't really need it. Then again I have given others a few dollars when they asked.

I have been seeing people asking for money for a real long time, not just recently. It was usually on the border of my city and a large major city.
 
I live in a fairly small town and pay attention to who is on the street asking for money. I have only encountered one who was out there repeating his act. In general, I assume that they do need help and I do hand them a couple of bucks. It doesn't hurt me to err on the side of being generous.
Now when we travel to a big city, I assume that they are probably career panhandlers, and I will make my contribution by sending a check to their local Salvation Army. Unfortunately, this practice lead to my mailbox getting filled with requests. I have learned to ink out my address and phone number on these checks,
 

I used to volunteer every Tues at a local 'soup kitchen',the majority of the people who came every day for the free lunch,always thanked us.There were a couple people who would ask strangers on the street for money after they had finished. I say this because one day when I was leaving the soup kitchen,one of the' regulars' asked me for money. At first I didn't feel comfortable doing it the'red flag' went up,but I gave him $ 2.After that, whenever he saw me out about on my walks,he would approach asking for money,I told him 'NO',he never bothered me again
 
JaniceM said:
Locally, many treat panhandling like full-time jobs.
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I wouldn't trade places with those people for a million dollars regardless of how much they make.

I have been scammed by people wearing suits. What's the difference? :love:

Everyone's on the take. In my original post I'm talking about pocket change not big bucks.
 
I was approached in a parking lot a couple of years ago by a young woman who asked if I could spare a couple of dollars, her children were hungry and she was down on her luck. I looked to where she was gesturing and there were pitiful looking kids in an old beat-up car, so I gave her $20 which was all I had at the time. I saw her drive to the McDonald's across the street so hopefully that was enough to feed them.

People have said to me, "she was probably a scammer." My response is that I really don't give a damn. When I saw those little faces it was all over for me; I only wish I'd had more money with me that day.
 
Aneeda72 said:
I actually agree with what everyone has said.

I’ve seen people ask for money who have been dropped off by vans. I’ve seen people who own expensive cars and bikes begging for money, and, yes, drug addicts. And men on the street asking for change.

Ive also seen mothers with children begging for money for food, diapers, etc. Men seeking work where there was none. We have all seen it all in the course of our lives. It is a judgement call, and why should I judge someone worthy of my spare buck or not, although I do, and am sorry that I do. For there but for the grace of God go I or you.

Do I get taken advantage of, yes. But I feel that I failed a person in need, once long ago. I won’t do that again. It is better to get taken advantage of a million times than miss than one person whose life you could improve if only for one second in time.

Believers are judged on their good deeds. Hopefully my good deeds will out weigh my bad deeds, but I can not be sure.
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,
Actually, believers are not judged by their good deeds. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And it is not your own doing, it is a gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast."
 
LindaB said:
,
Actually, believers are not judged by their good deeds. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And it is not your own doing, it is a gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast."
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I stand corrected 😱, but i am still giving aid to those who ask. 😂
 
C'est Moi said:
I was approached in a parking lot a couple of years ago by a young woman who asked if I could spare a couple of dollars, her children were hungry and she was down on her luck. I looked to where she was gesturing and there were pitiful looking kids in an old beat-up car, so I gave her $20 which was all I had at the time. I saw her drive to the McDonald's across the street so hopefully that was enough to feed them.

People have said to me, "she was probably a scammer." My response is that I really don't give a damn. When I saw those little faces it was all over for me; I only wish I'd had more money with me that day.
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The woman also wished you had more money with you that day.
 
Aneeda72 said:
I actually agree with what everyone has said.

I’ve seen people ask for money who have been dropped off by vans. I’ve seen people who own expensive cars and bikes begging for money, and, yes, drug addicts. And men on the street asking for change.

Ive also seen mothers with children begging for money for food, diapers, etc. Men seeking work where there was none. We have all seen it all in the course of our lives. It is a judgement call, and why should I judge someone worthy of my spare buck or not, although I do, and am sorry that I do. For there but for the grace of God go I or you.

Do I get taken advantage of, yes. But I feel that I failed a person in need, once long ago. I won’t do that again. It is better to get taken advantage of a million times than miss than one person whose life you could improve if only for one second in time.

Believers are judged on their good deeds. Hopefully my good deeds will out weigh my bad deeds, but I can not be sure.
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I do think that, if there is a final judgement, the most important question we will have to answer is "How much did you bestow love on the poor stranger?" Aneeda, you have no reason to fear the judgement of a loving God.
 
I resent young, clean shaven men wearing regular clothes begging on the corners. There is a difference between the poor and bums. If you know what it is then do and don't hand out money.
 
I have mixed and conflicted feelings on such matters. In my semi-rural area, passive beggars standing with signs may often be seen working the entrance/exit lanes by Walmart where traffic is brought to a halt by signals. They’ll maintain a position for perhaps 15 minutes, leaving before police come to jostle them. I’ve given a few small bills on occasion if stopped near them. Perhaps I’ve helped a few legitimate ones.

The beggars in cities like Baltimore are a different breed, far more aggressive by coming directly up to you and initiating contact personally. Their boldness makes me feel uneasy, and giving them a few small bills then moving away can become almost a defensive act to fend off a public nuisance if not a potential predator... :unsure:
 
Aneeda72 said:
Believers are judged on their good deeds. Hopefully my good deeds will out weigh my bad deeds, but I can not be sure
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LindaB said:
Actually, believers are not judged by their good deeds. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And it is not your own doing, it is a gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast."
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No matter either way
If I'm moved to give someone something of mine, I'm doin' it
It's a feel good
Hopefully for both parties

Gave a few bucks to a young woman hunched in a corner
crying
no sign

She warmly thanked me

Gave a twenty to a lady outside the dollar store
She was visibly upset her kid lost his birthday money
'all the money they had'

Like I say, it's a feel good

The day always seems a bit brighter after that
 
It's difficult to know if someone is in genuine need, or just a professional beggar. I think it's a scam as old as time. So I give to charity, but not to individuals. A couple years ago, we were coming out of a shopping center. In the median was a beggar. He was a fit, not particularly shabby young man. Directly across the road, a restaurant had a huge banner that said help wanted. No reason the beggar couldn't have been bussing tables instead of begging, at least as far as I could see. I think in most cases, it's a lifestyle choice. One which I do not choose to support.
 
There is a woman who begs in my neighborhood, sitting outside the subway station on a milk carton. The local stores give her free coffee and she buys cigarettes, or bums them, and is constantly smoking. I'd say she's in her sixties but it's hard to tell. I was informed by a reliable source that she owns her own home. She has obvious mental problems, not severe. She engages in conversation, and has a few "regulars" she's involved with.

Now, I'm not complaining, but I'm a low-income individual, although I have a middle-class appearance & live in an (inherited) coop. My son gave me his great fear which is: If I ever become "mental" I will do the same thing for extra $ and social company. Gosh, thanks, son. :rolleyes:
 
CarolfromTX said:
It's difficult to know if someone is in genuine need, or just a professional beggar. I think it's a scam as old as time. So I give to charity, but not to individuals. A couple years ago, we were coming out of a shopping center. In the median was a beggar. He was a fit, not particularly shabby young man. Directly across the road, a restaurant had a huge banner that said help wanted. No reason the beggar couldn't have been bussing tables instead of begging, at least as far as I could see. I think in most cases, it's a lifestyle choice. One which I do not choose to support.
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we have a homeless shelter here i can donate too. they can reap that reward if they are truly homeless. some of them are just druggies that are so messed up they can't work. i don't feel like it's my responsibility to pay their way. i'm trying to get by with my own living.
 
Camper6 said:
Why do we think everyone has to work their behind off before we help them out.?
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In my opinion, there are two different reasons or approaches:

In some cases, even good-hearted people can eventually become fed-up with being conned, scammed, and taken advantage of.

In others, though, there are those who truly believe nobody deserves any help at all.
 
Aunt Marg said:
What a tainted brush you paint with.
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My (Democrat-run) city posts signs asking us not to give panhandlers money.

I would suggest giving the money to a food pantry, a legitimate shelter or a church kitchen. People who are "on the street" are generally there because they have mental health issues (which money won't help) or substance abuse issues (which money will worsen).

That doesn't mean I don't break down once in a while and hand someone a couple of bucks.
 
Pepper said:
There is a woman who begs in my neighborhood, sitting outside the subway station on a milk carton. The local stores give her free coffee and she buys cigarettes, or bums them, and is constantly smoking. I'd say she's in her sixties but it's hard to tell. I was informed by a reliable source that she owns her own home. She has obvious mental problems, not severe. She engages in conversation, and has a few "regulars" she's involved with.

Now, I'm not complaining, but I'm a low-income individual, although I have a middle-class appearance & live in an (inherited) coop. My son gave me his great fear which is: If I ever become "mental" I will do the same thing for extra $ and social company. Gosh, thanks, son. :rolleyes:
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Pepper, you may have a low income and a middle-class appearance, but you have an upper-class mind.

Remind your son of his filial duty to take care of the one who brought him into the world.
 
MarciKS said:
we have a homeless shelter here i can donate too. they can reap that reward if they are truly homeless. some of them are just druggies that are so messed up they can't work. i don't feel like it's my responsibility to pay their way. i'm trying to get by with my own living.
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I am quite sure JC throughly interviewed everyone before he helped them to make sure he performed no miracle on anyone who refused to work, was a drug addict, insane, or had some other socially unacceptable behavior.

Oh, wait, wasn’t there something about those without sin cast the first stone? Oh, well, that probably doesn‘t apply. 😂
 
Aunt Marg
'Tainted brush" good phrase, must remember

My biggest problem with panhandlers is each situation brings with it ambiguity:
is this person in need,
or am I being conned?.
 

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