Geo's comment to my last post got me thinking.
I used to be very good about handing out spare change to people on the street (I was figuring that it was theft protection -- if they got enough money that way, the less chance they would mug someone or break into someone's house), but it seemed like as soon as I made eye contact and handed over a few quarters, they would somehow think this meant that I was their girlfriend. This was particularly problematic if it was someone I passed by quite often.
One especially enterprising young lady (we'll call her "Mary Meth") used to panhandle at the entrance of my bank. That way no one could say that they didn't have any money. It got to be so bad that I actually switched banks.
In my prior post I wrote about how I didn't help out with my friend's scrapbook project (just donated money for supplies instead), that I left it up to the "experts." If I can't even put stickers and photos on a piece of paper, what makes me think I can help homeless/jobless/mentally unstable people on the street? Instead, I donate money to foundations and community programs and leave it to the experts.
So sorry, buddy, I really can't spare a dime.
5 comments:
We went to downtown Portland, ME on Saturday and a pan-handler got my hubby for $2 with his sob story. Twenty minutes later we saw him again and he came right up to my hubby and said, "I still don't have enough money (enough money for what????)....can you LEND me some more?" thankfully, this time Hubby said no. They sure know who to target.
Sometimes I give money if they have a REALLY good story or are very animated while telling it. Or if they're creative with something like a "I just want a beer" signs. I'm not falling for the "Need money for a bus ticket" signs -- they know people will give them money if they think they're using it to leave town.
Hm, what would I put on my sign?
I give out bus tokens instead of cash.
NIGEL -- very smart.
When my dearest & I were dating, we were sob-story magnets... It didn't matter WHERE we were, SOME one would always ask us for money, a ride, food, whatever... We talked about it & decided who were WE to judge their need- if they ask & we can deliver, we do... We've bought McD meals & handed them out to women who would knock on our car window during a driving rain, claiming their kids were in her out-of-gas car, hungry & tired... cash, change, etc... Dan's even given clothing off his back- literally... HOWEVER, I want to point out that we sincerely try to rely on the Spirit's promptings when it comes to who/how we help, too... and lately, we've tried very hard to avoid potential trouble spots, certain places during certain times of day/night in the tri-county area are VERY dangerous... as in kill you for your shoes scary... It's hard to know, you know??
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