usnret Loc: Woodhull Il

I need some cash so I can catch a bus back home to Florida. That was the unusual request from a lady in the Hy-VEE grocery store parking lot as I was putting groceries in my truck a few hours ago. I noticed most of her front teeth were missing, some ugly lesions on her face and arms and as antsy as a cat on a hot tin roof and sweating profusely. I offered to take her to the bus station and buy her a ticket home just to see if that was really her intention. She insisted that she did not want to waste my time and all she needed was the $80.00 for the ticket. I didn't give her any money. I called Hy-Vee when I got home to let them know that she was canvassing the outskirts of their parking lot. If that was fentanyl usage in all its glory then I just saw first hand how purely evil the devils work can be.

Red6

I stopped giving to people on the street years ago for several reasons. The first time, I was approached at a local grocery store by a man that said he needed money to feed his kids. I gave him some cash and then watched him get into a brand new pick-up truck. As I was driving a 15 year old Honda, this did not sit well with me.

Another time my wife and I were hit up by a man who said that his kid had been killed in a car wreck and needed money to get home for the funeral. My wife went to an ATM and drew out money to give him. A few weeks later we saw him again in a different location begging for money. A year later he even approached us again, apparently not recognizing us.

The third situation happened to a lady I worked with. She and her husband had stopped at a convenience store. While her husband went inside she stayed in the car and was approached by a beggar asking for money to buy food. After getting $10 from her he went inside and bought a six-pack of beer and while standing in line to pay, bragged about getting the beer money from some lady outside. Also standing in that line was the lady's husband who heard the guy brag and just knew that his wife had given him the beer money.

This caused me to vow to never give money to a street beggar anymore, no matter how sad their story is. While some of the people are probably legit, the majority are not and are just crooks or lazy.

nikon_jon Loc: Northeast Arkansas

A few years ago I was working in my yard when a man approached me and asked for money. He said his little boy was sick and he needed money for the doctor. I haven't given money to beggars for years, so I didn't give this man any. About six months later the same man came around again asking for money. He said he had just gotten a good job an needed to get his car fixed so he could go to work every day. I asked him how his little boy was doing. He gave me a puzzled look and asked what I was talking about. I told him that he had asked for money for his little boy the last time he came by and that if he was going to lie he should at least remember the lie he told me previously. He gave me a confused look, gruffed out a sound of disgust and walked away.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

C. Everett Coop, the Surgeon General for Ronald Reagan was the Baccalaureate speaker at my college graduation. It just so happened his daughter was a member of my class. He was a fine Christian man and his address was, perhaps, the most memorable I've heard.

Dr. Coop said one thing that pertains to this post. At that time there were many individuals panhandling for money which was suspected to be used for alcohol. Dr. Coop said that he would give money to these individuals because, as adicts, their physical need for alcohol was real. Would he prefer that they kick the need and seek a better life? Of course, but in their current condition, alcohol was a true need for them that affected their health. This coming from a truly avout Christian and an outstanding physician.

So, $80 for drugs? A bit steep, but make your own decision as to whether this person is in need.

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

The only time I gave money to someone begging was when I was going to a pawnshop to look at their cameras.
The pawnshop was not in the best area of town. While I was walking to the shop from my car I was approached by a man asking me for some money. I asked him what he needed the money for. He said he wanted to get a bottle of cheap wine. Since he was honest with me I gave him a couple of dollars.

will

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

When I get approached like that, and I have been on several occasions, I tell them to go find a church. Churches should be glad to help. I'll bet none of you have ever seen them in your church.

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

I recall some years ago seeing a report about panhandlers in Los Angeles. Some of them make more than we do! When their day is finished, they go down the street to their expensive sports car and drive home to the suburbs!!!

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

I was in a train station in Philadelphia a couple of years ago and was approached by a haggardly-looking woman asking for money for food. She said she was hungry and looked it. I told her to wait there and ran across the street to a deli and bought her a sandwich, fries, and soda. When I returned she took the sack and dug in. She did seem to be extremely hungry. I feel it was 16.00 well spent.

Last week I was getting gas when a man holding a young child approached me saying he was in need of money to get home. His auto was also at one of the pumps. I told him I would put 5.00 in his car to help him get home. I think I put in 10.00 but at least I know the money wasn't spent on beer. My approach has always been to be charitable but not give in to someone collecting money that after a day of panhandling drives off in a late-model BMW or buys alcohol or drugs. While I can understand what the minister said about meeting someone's need, it also seems that doing that makes the giver an enabler so it is a two-edged sword and I choose to help someone in a way that would not enable them to continue making the bad decisions they have been.

Lucasdv123

Took my grandson son (14 years old)to the watermill express to show him where we buy our drinking water.there was a Asian gentleman filling about 20 1 gallon bottles of water.after about our 3rd bottle I had shown my grandson I gave him a dollar and while there a little old lady scruffy looking approached us and asked for some change.i told her not today.while I am taking one of the 3 gallon bottles back to the car I hear the Asian gentleman telling the old lady to give my grandson his money.with a 3 gallon jug it costs 75cents and the machine spit out a quarter which the old lady grabbed out of the machine.i turned around and demanded that she hand over the money.as soon as I approached the machine she went of the handle.i heard words that in my 68 years on this earth I had never heard.as she walked away the last thing I heard from her was that I hope you get runned over by a car and killed.my grandson was shocked. So no I haven't given money since I don't know when.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

In Dallas, especially, people get used to being approached and saying no. One day, at school, I wa approached by a man from a station wagon. Inside was was wife and three children. They were not on a corner panhandling everybody that went by. They came to my school thinking they might find some kind hearted individuals to help them. I was told they need money for some medication. Others had been approached and gave nothing. I have five dollars. The family was obviously in need. I hope that what little I gave them helped.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

You should have seen some of the crap that truck drivers see and hear in truck stops. I could have wrote a book after 28 years of that crap.

josquin1 Loc: Massachusetts

One should only give to charities. Most street giving goes to alcohol and drug purchases.

rcarol

You seem to be under the impression that being an alcoholic is a decision. I’ve never known an alcoholic that wakes up in the morning and says to himself, “My life goal is to be an alcoholic.”

KillroyII Loc: Middle Georgia

I generally do not give cash to anyone begging. I think their story is usually a lie and I don’t want to pay for drugs. I do offer to buy them food if there is a nearby fast food. Some take it but many refuse… just want cash.

Verryl

I was stopped at a traffic light across the street from a freeway exit. There was a guy there begging from each car that was stopped. When the light changed and the string of cars he had just begged from started up, an expensive car driven by an attractive girl slowed down as she passed him. She handed him a Styrofoam food box out the window. As she drove off, he took it and opened the lid to see what she had brought him for lunch.

Just another day at work.

Verryl