TOTALLY GEEKED!

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

People begging

ed11563 · Guru

I generally just drive by.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Southern_Belle wrote:
Twice this week I have seen the same family standing at the exit lane of two different shopping centers holding a sign asking for money. It's a 20 something year old couple and a preschool aged stroller sitting in an umbrella stroller. It's kind of irritating that these people will stand out in 100 degree weather with a small child asking for money instead of going to one of our local help agencies (and we have several in this town) for assistance. I guess I should have called one of them today to go get these people and give them a hand. What would you have done?

Local assistance places normally have a limit on how much assistance each family can receive. For example, our food bank allows you to go once a month. Another once every 60 days. They may have exhausted the assistance options.

However, I do not give money to people standing on the side of the road. You have no way of knowing if they are really in need, or if begging IS their job.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

We have at least half a dozen churches that has a food pantry. Lady around the corner visits them all each month. She's another story. We have another guy that stands on the same corner every day and I used to buy him food till I found out he gets picked up at the end up the day by a brother driving a Mercedes.

Divine Geek · Guru

I would just keep going

Or, give them a card from our church and tell them to come and we can help (and I don't mean they have to come to a service, I mean come to the physical building and we will find them help). My very good friend is the pastor. He is very disheartened by all the people that refuse help because it's not in the form they want. He has told people, come and we will feed you and take you to the grocery store; bring me your electric bill, I'll make sure it get paid; we have clothes for your kids to try on; etc. not all, but too many never show up. They don't want that kind of help, they just want cash to do with what they please

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

My church participates with other local churches in proving a house for people to stay in when they fall on hard times. We take a week at a time and someone is always there to cook meals and chat or pray if they wish. The people are never in the house alone so they can't be up to any shenanigans.

Vette · Owl drink to that!

I really, really try not to judge the homeless because I volunteer at a homeless shelter and a lot, lot of these people have MI. Also, my aunt was severely bipolar and disappeared about twenty years ago and I wouldn't be surprised (if she's still alive) if she's a beggar.

Sometimes I give money, sometimes I give snacks and water. I don't every single time though.

All that said, there are times when I also question, for example I saw a pregnant woman begging several times and I found that to be quite inconceivable considering, for women especially, there are so many resources and women's shelters. I felt that she was a scam. So even I judge but I try not to.

Vette · Owl drink to that!

P.S. I have been homeless, not to the point of begging but I always wonder if I won't go the same way as my aunt someday, having the same disorder and all.

Divine Geek · Guru

VetteGirl wrote:
P.S. I have been homeless, not to the point of begging but I always wonder if I won't go the same way as my aunt someday, having the same disorder and all.

No. No you will not. Because I will not allow you to disappear. You have a support system, please use us.

ed11563 · Guru

"However, I do not give money to people standing on the side of the road. You have no way of knowing if they are really in need, or if begging IS their job."

There was one guy several years ago who got picked up by the cops for panhandling, who ...

had lost his job as an accountant, and discovered he could make more money by begging on a street corner.

He went home at the end of the day to a split-level ranch house in a suburb, to his wife and kids.

When I was selling to Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in Manhattan, my favorite parking location was at meters around a small park across the street.

There were about a dozen Vietnam Vets living in the park, with tents, a hot plate, a small refrigerator ...

They had tapped into the power supply at the base of a street light pole.

One guy would watch my car for me, and always told me he would feed the meter if the meter maid came around.

I always gave him a few dollars, and any food from my house that I figured we were unlikely to use.

We had some nice (but brief) conversations.

Vette · Owl drink to that!

ed11563 wrote:
"However, I do not give money to people standing on the side of the road. You have no way of knowing if they are really in need, or if begging IS their job."

There was one guy several years ago who got picked up by the cops for panhandling, who ...
had lost his job as an accountant, and discovered he could make more money by begging on a street corner.
He went home at the end of the day to a split-level ranch house in a suburb, to his wife and kids.

When I was selling to Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in Manhattan, my favorite parking location was at meters around a small park across the street.
There were about a dozen Vietnam Vets living in the park, with tents, a hot plate, a small refrigerator ...
They had tapped into the power supply at the base of a street light pole.

One guy would watch my car for me, and always told me he would feed the meter if the meter maid came around.
I always gave him a few dollars, and any food from my house that I figured we were unlikely to use.
We had some nice (but brief) conversations.

Did you follow him home or something?

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

60 minutes did a big program on this. There are actually people who make a big living begging. They found a guy willing to be filmed that made sixty grand a year begging. He was, by no means, poor. And it was all tax free. Anyway, what they found is it's better to donate to a small local charity than to give money to them. John Stossel said that most of the time it does NOT go toward food. And he said the smaller charity the less overhead so the more of your money actually goes to the poor.

ed11563 · Guru

VetteGirl wrote:
ed11563 wrote:
"However, I do not give money to people standing on the side of the road. You have no way of knowing if they are really in need, or if begging IS their job."

There was one guy several years ago who got picked up by the cops for panhandling, who ...
had lost his job as an accountant, and discovered he could make more money by begging on a street corner.
He went home at the end of the day to a split-level ranch house in a suburb, to his wife and kids.

When I was selling to Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in Manhattan, my favorite parking location was at meters around a small park across the street.
There were about a dozen Vietnam Vets living in the park, with tents, a hot plate, a small refrigerator ...
They had tapped into the power supply at the base of a street light pole.

One guy would watch my car for me, and always told me he would feed the meter if the meter maid came around.
I always gave him a few dollars, and any food from my house that I figured we were unlikely to use.
We had some nice (but brief) conversations.

Did you follow him home or something?

The vet in the park was living in a tent near my parking space.

Idon't usually follow people home, unless they feed me and scratch me behind my ears.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

I tried posting a reply twice yesterday but the internet gods didn't wish for me to post. There was some questions recently on our police department FB page. Turns out it is legal to beg in this town as long as you aren't lying about your situation. So, if ya lie and say you are homeless and ask for money when you really do have a home then you can be arrested.

ed11563 · Guru

Southern_Belle wrote:
I tried posting a reply twice yesterday but the internet gods didn't wish for me to post.

They weren't singling you out, I've been running into that too.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I dont give strangers money on the street. I will throw change in the red kettles and the other collection containers if I have it.

I have seen someone go get a loaf of bread and a pack of bologna and try to give to someone. They were so mad she didn't give them money.

If you see this same family again, I don't know that I wouldn't call CPS. I mean, maybe they can help get the child off the street at least.

But that doesn't always mean better.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

I saw them leaving Applebee's the other day. Not giving them squat.

Tangerine · Guru

If someone asks me on the street, I will usually give a couple dollars if I have any cash.

How do y'all feel about internet begging? I would never stoop so low, personally. I have been surprised by a few friends lately asking for money for their medical bills and then one asking for help paying for her cat's vet bills.

I just can't imagine asking all my friends (in one case,medical bills,friend has been posting links to her gofundme on several popular articles on FB each day-essentially begging strangers) for money for my bills.

I made one of these a casserole and sent a sympathy card to another. I just can't bring myself to give them money.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

Yeah, some of the gofundme "fundraisers" I've seen are a bit much. The second someone has a personal hardship they immediately think someone else needs to pay for it. Some situations I can see donating to but not for people's poor planning for their own life.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Tangerine wrote:
If someone asks me on the street, I will usually give a couple dollars if I have any cash.

How do y'all feel about internet begging? I would never stoop so low, personally. I have been surprised by a few friends lately asking for money for their medical bills and then one asking for help paying for her cat's vet bills.

I just can't imagine asking all my friends (in one case,medical bills,friend has been posting links to her gofundme on several popular articles on FB each day-essentially begging strangers) for money for my bills.

I made one of these a casserole and sent a sympathy card to another. I just can't bring myself to give them money.

I knew a couple that was posting on FB about actively trying to have a baby and at the same time asking on FB for money for their truck payment and insurance. I was like really? Are you effing kidding me? I didn't donate and I deleted them.

Divine Geek · Guru

Southern_Belle wrote:
Yeah, some of the gofundme "fundraisers" I've seen are a bit much. The second someone has a personal hardship they immediately think someone else needs to pay for it. Some situations I can see donating to but not for people's poor planning for their own life.

Some of those are hilarious. Read all the wedding ones, the "deserve" the dream wedding and honeymoon lol

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Have you seen the car ones? Where a couple can register for a car and the guests can buy parts of the car? Like you can buy a bumper or a head light or anything on the car. Whatever is left the couple has to buy... lol

ed11563 · Guru

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
Have you seen the car ones? Where a couple can register for a car and the guests can buy parts of the car? Like you can buy a bumper or a head light or anything on the car. Whatever is left the couple has to buy... lol

Buying a car that ways is MUCH more expensive than just buying the finished product.

Don't know if it's still this way, but

people used to be able to buy a new Corvette or Cadillac, dismantle it, and sell the front-end parts for what they'd paid for the whole car. Then the rest of the parts were pure profit.