[sfarrow3]

What are your thoughts? Have you?

I'm from a very small town and was completely SHOCKED when I went to college and saw people actually standing on a street corner and asking for money! LMAO. I have given food to several homeless people, but never money. One time some dude asked me for a bucket of chicken and I went to KFC and bought him one!! CRAZY in know...DH tells me all the time that I need to be very careful. Usually I am very selective and only help when I get a "feeling" to assist. My DH said that one time a guy was holding a sign that read "Im hungry".. and DH offered to buy the guy a hamburger from Mcdonalds (it was the closest place) and the guy said "I don't eat McDonald's hamburgers!!!" LMAO

[*BabyMaMa*]

I was just about to post about this! I know it sounds horrible, but I don't give money to the homeless. There are a lot in Charlotte, and it is sad, but let me go into more detail about why I've chosen not to.

Once Marques and I were eating in Uptown (basically downtown) Charlotte in this outdoor garden area. A homeless man walks up to us, and asks Marques for a dollar. Marques said "No...I don't have one." The homeless man then walked up to the soda machine near by, and said "I don't need your MFing money anyways." Marques said, "so why did you ask?" He replied "Man, F you and that B (referring to me)" Marques of course gets completely heated and out of control about the situation, and ends up in a mini cursing match with the man. I was scared to death!

Another story, in nursing school we went to DC (I went to school 20 minutes outside of DC) to pass out fruit to homeless people. We get there, and I'm so amped to hand out food to these people in need, and don't you know I've never had so much food thrown at me in my life. Those people wanted money, and I'm sure it was to fund their addictions.

I might be willing to give food to people who are really in need, or volunteer at a soup kitchen, but I will never GIVE money not knowing wear it's going to. I work hard for my money...might sound selfish, I know.

Of course we have homeless people here but only once or twice have I seen them asking for money. Although I do live towards the country so Im not down town to see it.
We went to Chicago a few years ago and there was tons of people there but we were driving so we didnt encounter them up close.

I've never been asked to give money. I wouldn't anyways unless I felt they really truly needed it. Most do use their money for drugs and alcohol.

[SarahBethsMommy]

I work with organizations that help feed the hungry. I also work on getting them things they need. There is a "tent city" under one of the overpasses in our biggest city. We give out blankets in the winter there and water in the summer. There are lots of places they could sleep, but they choose to stay in the tents. I don't feel a need to give them money.

Have you guys ever read Same Kind of Different as Me? That book made me want to give away all my money to the homeless. LOL.

[sfarrow3]

Now I have done a blanket drive in my youth group. We basically had members give nice warm blankets and we hand delivered them downtown during Christmas time. I have also served food with my youth group during Thanksgiving and Christmastime. I have had alot of homeless people ask for money though and really the way people stand on street corners asking for money puts a bad taste in my mouth because there are SO MANY other resources out there to assist them. I wish there weren't so many bad apples out there so the people who really need help could get the help they deserve.

[Karlie]

No never. We have an awesome welfare system here noone needs to be hungry and most of the homeless people are visibly drunk.

[Hollybear]

Meh, it depends. I don't usually carry small bills with me but there's this one guy that hangs out near Starbucks and has the wittiest signs like, "F*ck it, I'm not gonna lie, I need a beer" and "Bet you can't hit me with a quarter", I almost always give him something.

Oh and if they have dogs with them it makes me sad. I used to pick up an extra box of dog biscuits from TJ's and leave them in my car to give to the guy when I saw him. (He was always near TJ's) I haven't seen him in a while, is it sad I worry about the dog? LOL

[Ally-Mac]

Toronto News: How panhandlers use free credit cards - thestar.com

you should read this story -- it's interesting to see what people did with the card.

[Hollybear]

Originally Posted by Ally-Mac

Toronto News: How panhandlers use free credit cards - thestar.com

you should read this story -- it's interesting to see what people did with the card.

I SO want to do this. That's really cool.

[EquestrianMama]

I saw a guy in the Baltimore area who had a kitty and a dog with him. I asked if he needed pet food, he said yes, so I ran into Walmart and got a bag of dog food, some cat food, treats for both, a big thing of gatoraide, a thing of water, and couple sandwhiches for him. He was so incredibly grateful that he actually got tearyeyed.

[Jule'sMomInOR]

Nope, never and not about to start.

[Daffodil]

I don't, but hubby does all the time

[bundle2baby]

Originally Posted by sfarrow3

Now I have done a blanket drive in my youth group. We basically had members give nice warm blankets and we hand delivered them downtown during Christmas time. I have also served food with my youth group during Thanksgiving and Christmastime. I have had alot of homeless people ask for money though and really the way people stand on street corners asking for money puts a bad taste in my mouth because there are SO MANY other resources out there to assist them. I wish there weren't so many bad apples out there so the people who really need help could get the help they deserve.

^^This! We have many homeless standing on corners (especially at busy intersections & highway off ramps) holding signs asking for money. It's always been that way here, but over the past year or so I've noticed it happening in parking lots. One woman and her (9-10 year old?) daughter walked right up to my car while I was taking Matthew out of his carseat! She was holding a small sign asking for money (she did not speak English). Another time a man walked up behind me while I was putting Matthew in a shopping cart, asking for money (he spoke only broken English). Even though there are resources out there for Americans, I suspect these folks are not U.S. citizens and don't know what else to do. It bothers me a lot though, b/c even though I feel for them, I'm also increasingly worried about our safety.

[EquestrianMama]

Originally Posted by bundle2baby

^^This! We have many homeless standing on corners (especially at busy intersections & highway off ramps) holding signs asking for money. It's always been that way here, but over the past year or so I've noticed it happening in parking lots. One woman and her (9-10 year old?) daughter walked right up to my car while I was taking Matthew out of his carseat! She was holding a small sign asking for money (she did not speak English). Another time a man walked up behind me while I was putting Matthew in a shopping cart, asking for money (he spoke only broken English). Even though there are resources out there for Americans, I suspect these folks are not U.S. citizens and don't know what else to do. It bothers me a lot though, b/c even though I feel for them, I'm also increasingly worried about our safety.

That happens ALL the time here, especially with them not speaking English. Monterey and Seaside don't like having homeless around (bad for tourism, yknow) so they ship them up to Salinas and leave them there.

[SarahBethsMommy]

Honestly, it makes me so sad. I was talking with some folks once who were homeless and I asked them why they didn't take advantage of the programs we have to help and stuff. Most didn't know about them at all for the first while they were on the street. Then they said they had to prove a need, which is harder than you think. They didn't have a mailing address to have things sent, so many were turned away because of that. They were told to "Make friends and get an address or purchase a PO box." Silly, I know, but unfortunately that was the system.

Many of those I was speaking with were 3rd generation homeless. They had known nothing else, never been able to go to school, never had any kind of education.

My goal isn't to give them money, but to find them and teach them about what they can get and how to go about doing that. There are a number of folks who very much take advantage and are addicts, but there are a lot more I think who just simply don't know.

[Lilly Bella]

never money but we have bought lunch for them before.

[nevergivingup]

I don't give money either. I have bought a few food before and they were so grateful for it. I only do this though when I get that "feeling" they need it and I'm always right when I do.