They sure seem to be everywhere these days. In shopping centers, and
malls to standing at stop lights with "I'll work for food" signs.
Printable View
They sure seem to be everywhere these days. In shopping centers, and
malls to standing at stop lights with "I'll work for food" signs.
I don't see too many around where I live, but when I go into Pittsburgh for an event or something I do see a lot of them. Usually I give them money, but some of them look like they'll just take the money and go to the closest liquer store, so I'm a bit iffy about it. I will go get them some food sometimes too.
No, I don't. I do give money to shelters who feed, house and clothe the homeless. That way I know the money went for a good cause and not to buy alcohol, cigarettes or porn.
A guy at the shopping mall had a sign saying he would work for food. I asked him if he would help me clean my windows. No, I can't get on ladders.
I asked him if he would help me mow the lawn. No, I have a bad back.
I asked him if I could buy him a sandwich. He said he'd rather have the cash. I walked away. Evidently he wouldn't work for food.
i never have; I feel bad for them, but always stop to wonder how they got in that position in the first place.
Yes I do. I don't know what to say about it or what the "solution" is. I don't always though. I guess it depends on the situation - like if the light stops me near enough to them that I don't have to call them over or get out of mu car. Also, if I have some money with me. If I have a $20.00 only, then I won't. But if I have a few bucks somewhere I will.
I have told me kids my philosophy on it (for whatever it is worth). If they are desperate enough and willing to beg, then I should be willing to give them a few dollars when I have it.
About the notion of them actually being "RICH - pretty far fetched but I sometimes hear people say this", I still figure - when I gave of myself, I thought I was helping someone down and out and less fortuneate - the fact that they may have "tricked" me DOES NOT change my act of charity.
Same goes for CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. If I give believing that they are doing good (and they really are not), it DOES NOT change what I did and my motivations.
There's a homeless guy that sits outside one of the grocery stores around here. I buy him dinner and he gladly accepts the food. The clerks in the store say he won't accept money. He is truly down on his luck, even went to college and is trying to save up money to move back east where he is from. She said he had a lot of problems with his family but he is always very nice and has never once asked for anything from us.
Bobs dad - you are so right. The acts of charity are done out of the kindness of your heart, and I guess we should trust that the money is being used for good. What's scary is how easy it is for someone to end up on the streets. So many people live paycheck to paycheck, if one little thing happens they can loose everything. So sad.....
No, the last time I gave a guy money in Vancouver, he turned around and bought crack, right in front of my eyes. Never again.
Now when I am home for Christmas, I usually toss a few granola bars or oranges in my purse, but I will never give out cash.
WOW... that would be a real turnoff I agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackie
Where is Gran Canaria. My daughter, Sarah is in Spain and will be until Wednesday. I guess she has been in Barcelonia, Madrid and somewhere now - I don't exactly know.
Has she been around your neck of the woods??? Her name is Sarah... I'm sure you would remember if you saw her - she's the one with the IPOD!!! LOL!!!
No.
ELIZABETH!!!!!! My... you are being rather outspoken and extremely "wordy" this AM! LOL!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by elizabethann
I don't. Usually because I never have cash. but There was one corner where I used to live and there would be a different guy there every week with a sign that says homeless and hungry please help and they were dressed better than I was. I saw a guy with brand new Nike shoes on, a columbia jacket, Nice new looking jeans, he was clean shaven and his hair was clean and trimmed. I just CAN'T bring myself to believe that this person needs food. perhaps they could have bought cheaper shoes or a cheaper jacket. I mean I can't even afford that stuff but I am not out on a street corner asking for food.
They did a news story about panhandlers and how much money they make on average. I don't know how reliable it was because... well... it's the news lol but it was more than I make in a week.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BOBS DAD
:D Sorry. But I just don't give money to panhandlers. I don't even give money to the bell ringers outside of stores at Christmas time (I'm probably going to hell for that one).
I will, however, contribute to the local soup kitchen and have volunteered there on many occasions.
I used to, but not any more. I wouldn't mind being "tricked" by someone who has the money or ability to work. But I would mind contributing to habits or vices that keep a person down, and that is what I am afraid would happen. Giving someone on the street food is fine, but giving them a way to remain there is not.
I do, but only if they are doing something. There is an old guy here who sits on a corner regularly and picks his guitar. He is not a good guitar player, but he's trying to do something! I always throw a couple bucks in his cup.
When I lived in Calgary, there was a newspaper that homeless people could sell. Instead of asking for money, you could buy a paper for whatever amount you felt like giving. I had a favorite young man I always bought mine from. Depending on my own financial situation at the time, I often overpaid alot for that paper!
In Cleveland we have the same set up. We only give $ to those selling the paper and we overpay too. Otherwise, we offer to buy food, but if they turn that down, we walk away.Quote:
Originally Posted by Glacier
No way. I once gave a guy some fruit on my way home from work in Philly (his sign said he needed food) and he tossed it on the ground. Then a few weeks later, the news ran a big expose on the panhandlers, and my fruit dude was one they showed.... they showed what he does with the money for "food" Last I heard, Jack Daniels was not food. :rolleyes:
Also, there's a famous case where a woman was panhandling in Atlantic City. She was there for years, talking about her poor starving children. They went to Princeton, thanks to the generousity of all the gamblers she told her sad tale to. She made a fortune begging on the boarwalk! :eek:
I do to the people who look trust worthy. No, I don't just look at people and think I can trust them not to buy drugs,drinks,ect. But if they have children I do. Once in Washington there was a guy with a dog and the dog was very skinny. It was the guys and he said he wanted to buy food for the dog. I knew he did because after a while the man went inside a petstore. It really was nice to see someone care about his pet more then himself. He didn't look at his best, let me tell you.
Not usually. Sometimes we do, but most of the people look really well dressed and so you can asume that they will use if for drugs or beer or something. We once gave some money to a man that only had one leg. Couple days or a week later, we saw him at Golden Corra, an all you can eat buffet that costs around $10 per person. He looked like he was dressed better than me! So now we are wary around the people who beg for money. We usually give money to those with children, who you can tell don't eat or bathe often.
I've only seen homeless people on the street once or twice in our area, in my life. We have plenty of shelters here that are rarely full, so if they are truely in need, they'll find my money there.
No.
But, if they are sitting infront of a grocery store or I'm on my way to a fast food place, I'll buy a burger, water bottle, or something of that sort. There's not too many in my area, though. A few cities south of us is where they all are.
No, we donate to the ark and other places but we don't give it to them directly.
I feel terrible for the kids on the streets standing by their mother and their mother begging for money. I know my grandmother tried to help that lady but all she wanted was money. My grandmother offered to buy them food, the lady said no and the child started to cry.
NO! I sed to all the time but while sitting in my car waiting for hubby to come back, i sat and watched a man pan handle, then go into an alley , come back out 10 min. later in a nice suit and jump into a SUV! I have been turned off by them since! I contribute to shelters and such, and will continue that, but no more money to people on the street!
Nope. When hubby worked in downtown Nashville he and a coworker decided to be nice and buy a panhandler a hamburger and coke one day and the guy got mad and threw it in the trash. He just wanted money.
What really makes me mad is to see people with signs standing at the off ramp from the interstate near my house who have their dogs with them in 90+ degree heat in the horrible sun. There is no shade and I never see anything for water for the dogs. If they want to cook themselves fine but give the dog a break! On top of that a local tv station decided to watch one of these off ramp panhandlers and after standing out in the sun collecting money all day from people stuck at the red light she walks over to a nearby gas station, gets in her car and drives home to a nice neighborhood. GGRRRR! :mad: :mad:
I couldn't agree more. I only saw one when I was on vacation in the states. I don't see many here. That's probably because were I live, if people want money...They smuggle goods. There is so much smuggling here.... You would be SHOCKED ! :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by cocker_luva
No - pretty much for all the reasons listed. The people working the freeway off-ramps are "professionals" - they consider this to be their occupation.
I stick with charities.
It depends. There was a guy around here that never asked for money, but was obviously homeless. He just sat by the street, waving and yelling out "Have a nice day!" I would have given money if he was still there when I finally had extra cash to spare.
When I worked in the mall, I often got off work at 12:30am. As I waited for my ride, I'd get asked for money 9/10 times. I gave money the first time.. because I gave him the benefit of the doubt. But after a while, I was pretty sure he wasn't homeless. He was always clean shaven, did not have any odor, wore clean clothes (they looked old.. but any thrift store will have old clothes available) and he ALWAYS said he had "two ninety-five". Never a penny more or less. After that, I never spoke to him.. I'd always have my music blasting and I'd just stare at him not saying a word. :p But one day he asked again, and I yelled out "I @#)$(*&#% gave you money before. You had $2.95 that day too". Ohh.. the look on his face... :D
For me it depends also, we don't see that much of it in my city, but yes they are there, we have a reasonable welfare system in my country so i don't see why these people have to beg myself, however some kids and adults do busking to raise funds for a school trip or whatever and if i have a few dollars spare which is rare i probably would give them something for their efforts.
We have people on the roads who want to clean your windscreen at the lights, they hope to get some money from you,however it is dangerous for them and illegal but they still do it, i figure at least they are getting off their butts trying to earn something,mind you some people take the cleaning on offer and give nothing, that is just plain mean spirited IMO.
Like many others i would prefer to give to the salvation army and places like that who help out the homeless and poor and at least you know the money is going where it is needed,but again it really depends, one if i have any money on me, and i rarely carry cash and just who is begging for it,sometimes my heart just melts and i will give if i think i need to.
I'm not sure if begging is legal here, I haven't seen anyone around my area doing it.
My money only goes to animal charities, our welfare system more than pays for anyone else. :)
Yes, everytime I have spare change I do. Honestly, even if they are going to go buy booze I don't really care. They're going to get the booze anyways, so may as well let them do it correctly.
Lizbud,
What a novel idea!!!! :eek: :eek:Quote:
"I'll work for food" signs
Since I've been looking for full time work for over 6 months, maybe THAT'S what I should do!!!!
I do not give money to panhandlers. I do offer to buy them a meal. Onetime I was in NYC and a panhandler asked me for money. I offered him my fruit yogurt and he got REAAAAALLYY pissed at me. He screamed at me, "I need MONEY, not your damned yogurt!!" Oh well, his loss.
The first time I was approached by a panhandler was in the PetsMart parking lot.This guy said his car had run out of gas & he needed a few
dollars to get some. Said he had left his wife & kids in the car down the
street. The thought of the wife & small kids in a car stuck in traffic like that
made me sympathetic & I gave the guy a few dollars.
Only when I saw him again the next week with the same tired excuse for
money did I realize it was a scam. I never gave anyone money after that.
No, I never have. But, I have volunteered at the soup kitchen for the homeless many times, and I also make Christmas cookies each year and give them to the Red Cross.
***This is NoahsMommy, NOT Gini***
I'll give food/drinks, but NOT money. There are sooooo many programs and governmentally funded housing/jobs/etc. for them to take advantage of.
I've often givin out food, but that's it.
I don't because usually I'm by myself and I don't trust them not to hurt me or something. We don't have many here because our police will take them to the Red Cross and get them some help, if they really need it. The ones who really need help seem grateful, the ones who are just mooching, move on to greener pastures.
I do not.
I don't have money to spare. Period. We have enough to take care of ourselves and our (fur)babies. Most of the people I have encountered have been like the aforementioned "pros". I've talked to some folks who panhandle and they said they've made several HUNDRED dollars in a sitting (spanning a few hours.).
Never.
I work in SF and between the train and the two blocks to my office I run a gamaut thru 10-12 VERY aggressive panhandlers. I've seen reports that more than half of these "homeless" are so as a matter of personal preference or "lifestyle". :rolleyes:
In addition most of these people have an animal of some sort for the sympathy factor. This pisses me off most. If you can't take care of yourself fine, but it's not the animals fault. I have give some of these people kibble for the cat or dog.
I've also seen a van load of people dropped off in the financial district with a few taking each street first thing in the morning. Then picked up at night! :eek:
What a nice operation!
Yes, though I like to chat with people before I decide to give them money or anything else. It also depends on where. In San Francisco - Heck no! The place and the people are too scary for me.
Santa Cruz though....There are a lot of homeless in Santa cruz, though not as many as in SF. I like to talk to some of the people who live underneath the pier on the beach and spend their days fishing. There's a lady there whose husband was really abusive and she ran away when he started to hit her beautiful pit bull, so I try to bring her money and a can of dog food. Last time I gave $5 to a homeless couple and the woman cried because they could BOTH buy a Subway sandwich for that much.
I know some people are out to buy alcohol or rip you off, but I'm willing to give people the benefit of the doubt.
I do... that is if I have the money & if I have a feeling that it will be spent on things other than booze (even if I have a hunch that they will spend only part of it on booze but part on something else that is needed, I'll still give it). I usually chat with them for a while or the like to get a feel for them.
This is hard to type but it made me who I am today. I am not proud of it but again it made who I am today.
I lived on the streets before, more than once. A few times before I was even out of high school. My father and I did not have the best relationship back then. Only one of the times was it by choice or at least partially by choice. I moved out of state with an ex b/f about 9 years ago, who said we could find a house. Well we never found a house so we were homeless.
I have had to beg for money for food, dog food (Nanook was with me), personal items, etc.. and let me tell you if the person beggin for food has any morals then they will feel ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE asking for money. I know I did. I HATED HATED HATED it but I could not get any help from any organization. With no home to change clothes, take a shower at, etc... there were no job opportunities. It was a ROUGH life and I tried my hardest to get on my feet but it was near impossible without some help from someone.
Good for you !!!! :D I'm proud of you. I would have ran away if someone hit my dog, too.Quote:
Originally Posted by CathyBogart