Do You Give Money to Panhandlers?

@ the kingslayer.
I honestly prefer to give donations to the food pantry myself because I think the biggest fear is hunger. Even with a place to live, I've gone with having almost nothing to eat for a week so I like to give food to the food pantry rather than money. I don't have a lot of money myself, but I can fill up a bag with food for ten dollars. :)

If I do have change to spare and I pass by a beggar on the streets or in the train, I will most likely give them something. I give spare change to beggars a lot. As someone who gets around everywhere by walking or public transit, I carry a lot of change and singles in my purse for fare or drinks so if I have extra, I'll put it towards giving it to the beggars. What they do with it is their choice. Once it's out of my hands and into theirs, it's not my money anymore. It's theirs and their choice on how to use it. I can only hope that they will put it towards something that will benefit them but ultimately, it's their choice.

In my city, there is sadly a large amount of people who are homeless. No matter where you go around here, you will see at least one person whose suffering like that. There's so many homeless people because it is very easy to fall into homelessness in this city. They come from all ages, there's a lot of elderly just as there are a lot of younger people on the streets. From talking to the younger people, I've noticed a lot of them are either backpackers/hitchhikers who got stranded in San Francisco or LGBTQ youth who ran from abusive homes and escaped here. On that though, I've encountered a number of homeless youth who are like that because they lost their job and couldn't afford their apartment anymore. From talking to the elderly, I've noticed a lot of them are either mentally ill or people who were laid off and unable to find another form of work. Then of course, you have the alcoholics and drug addicts whose addiction caused them to lose it all. But everyone has their own story and their own reasons as to what pushed them into homelessness. I do converse with some beggars I give to if I've got the time to spare and they're up for a chat.

A lot of the homeless do beg for money, but there is also a good portion of them who try to earn money as street performers. A lot of people will play makeshift instruments or dance, but others try different methods. For example, I know a homeless man who gives directions in exchange for money. But the most creative person probably would be the "Bush Man". He's a homeless guy who hides behind bushes down at the Wharf and scares the shit out of tourists. It's pretty hilarious watching him do it, he makes a lot of money scaring tourists.

Whenever I give money to someone, I'm always thanked and given a smile. I've had a number of people give me a hug as well and tell me how sweet I am. I've also been thanked by some of the homeless even if I didn't have anything to give them. They thank me for the simple fact I acknowledge them politely and give them a smile. A lot of them would really like to at least be acknowledged in a friendly manner even if you can't or won't give them anything. A lot of them just want to be treated like human beings again. Most of the homeless have been very sweet to me. Of course, I have been attacked a time or two by someone who is homeless, but those are usually the addicts who are so fucked out of their minds that they have no idea what they're doing.

I like giving to beggars because it makes them happy and I like seeing people happy. I like seeing people smile. It warms my heart and makes me happy to see others happy. The smallest gesture of kindness can really make a person happy, it can make a big difference. I've had a lot of people call me foolish for how much I do give to beggars but I really don't care. I like what I do and it makes me happy. It's my money and if I want to give some spare money to someone whose homeless, then it's my choice to do so. It makes me happy and it makes them happy, so it's a good situation for us all.

The thing is, where I live there aren't just homeless beggars. The majority of people who ask for money are young and rough looking, dressed in tracksuits and pestering everyone they come up to. It's obvious these are looking for booze or drug money.

The other type is people who play musical instruments. I will happily give money to these people, and my parents encourage it. There is a homeless man who plays his accordion in the town I live nearly every day. Because people are so used to him being there, we just give him the money and go on our way. Our town has even painted out a square in the centre of the shops, which is used for anyone playing an instrument.

I think psychologically it's a lot easier to trust someone doing something good with their lives whilst asking for money, such as playing an instrument, rather than walking up and asking. Even if they're using the money for the same drugs and booze, at least they're being pleasant people and considerate to the people around. I rarely see actual beggars on the street with nothing but a cup, so I don't know how I'd react to that.

If I have change with me, I'll give them some for sure (:

If somebody has taken a long time to think of a great backstory, then I'll give them some change. What I can't stand is when they have no story. I like to hear their stories.

Infrequently, bar that time I was cornered at the bus station and freaked out. :l (I wasnt in my hometown either)

I've also always grown up with it drummed into my brain that they'll use it on drugs or something, but in my hometown I havent really seen any homeless people..

If I have change and time to stop, I do. I know a lot of people say that we shouldn't, that we don't know what their story is or whatever but I don't really pay mind to that. If they look sad, dirty, poor and are begging on the streets, I'll give it. This is also a reason why my sisters try to avoid walking through the city with me. I always make them give money too. Heh.

I don't, for a very simple reason: the majority of beggers around here are gypsies and those people get HUGE paychecks from Social Security, they don't work, they steal... So yeah, I'm sorry but I barely have money for myself, why would I give it to someone who doesn't even do shit to earn it? Well yeah, call me a bitch.

My first thought is no, to try and avoid them, but that is just societies values branded into my own. So I will sometimes turn back around and give them the change in my pockets.

Mostly yes, though the area I live in has a large amount of drug addicted homeless so I tend to not give them anything but the change at the bottom of my purse. If they approach me with the story that theyre trying to buy food and Im near a fast food place Ill generally tell them to wait and go buy them something myself, just to take sure the money goes to what they said it would. There have been times Ive been approached at a gas station and they ask me for a few dollars for gas and I tell them Id go pay for some but they get all "oh no you can just give me the cash. i was gonna get gas somehwere else" which seems a might bit suspicious to me so I get all "well darn I only have my card"

My dad raised my to help people when they need it (even though hes a complete d-bag to everyone, makes no sense really) and to give if I can help. So I try to help when I have the money.

Let me tell you a little story of the people who beg for money on the line from the international bridges from Mexico to U.S.

You see a wide array of people: Tarahumaras who sell their crafts and use the money as source of income in order to sustain their families without losing their traditions; teenagers or people in their early 20s cleaning cars who use the money for a) drugs and booze or b) feed themselves or their families; elderly people who have lost their jobs and need to eat; people with disabilities that normally have a cardboard with specifics written, example: Hello, my name is Benito, I lost my leg because I have diabetes and I need money to pay for medicines. God bless; there are children who are sent by their parents because a) they don't want to work and see this as a good income source (people tend to give money to children more than to anybody here) or b) they are homeless and have no place to go or anything to eat; families that lack the income to make ends meet.

Of all of this, let me tell you about the people with the disabilities.

Benito, the guy in the example, claims that he needs his money for his medicines because he does not have money. Well, Benito does have money and instead of spending that money on "medicines" guess what bought? A 2012 Titan truck.

A woman who apparently has a lot of tumors (horribly big and visible on the neck and stomach) actually is pretty good at makeup. She makes a shit-ton of money by begging. She is not in need.

Those kids who are sent by their parents are neglected children who often don't see a penny of that money (or centavo, 'cause it's normally in pesos) because it's wasted in drugs and alcohol. These are cases reported to the equivalent to Child Protective Services, but you can't do anything without evidence in here.

Some of the teens and mid twenties there work with the cartels and place drugs on cars when they're cleaning them. Sometimes they work as "halcones" (hawks) that check when someone enters or leaves the country and later report this to the cartels. This is how a lot of the kidnappings have happened in this city; they see when you lave, when you return, in what cars, with whom, and make an entire structured schedule for you.

I always offer food first. There's this elderly man whom I always buy food for when I have the chance, because he really needs food. He does not ask for money; he always asks for food or any other help you can give him. I always give money to the family who are singing early in the morning and leave in the afternoon to take the kids to school; they use the money for their education. I hate having to pick and choose on who to help, but I fear that we often give our help to the wrong people (I didn't even know this about Benito and the lady with the "tumors", but then I saw the lady on another part without the tumors and Benito arriving on his Titan).

No, I don't.
And here's my reasoning.
This is probably going to sound racist and I don't mean to offend anyone at all.
I'm from Texas and I've only seen black and white people begging for money on street corners.
I have constantly heard people bashing Hispanics and how they don't contribute to the state, mostly coming from the black and white people.
Not once have I seen a Hispanic person on the street begging for money, instead, I have seen them begging for JOBS.
There is a street corner where a lot of Hispanic men congregate every morning in the hopes that someone will drive by and offer them a construction job, even if it is for just one day.
So, no, I'm not going to be giving my hard earned money to someone who is constantly talking shit about people who are from the same place as me.

I carry around quarters I get from coffee/lunch change. (I have a fucking lot.)
And then I allot them to the homeless in Boston while passing by. <3

I gave a man 20 dollars once, part of it was because I felt pity for him, the other part was fear <3

I'll always give money. There's a lot of people who beg because they're too lazy to work but there's also people who beg because they need it. I'd rather give my money and give it to someone who doesn't need it than not give my money to someone who genuinely does.

I do give change when I can.

There was a day where there was a big snow storm coming and a lady came up to my sisters and I asking for just two dollars so she can get on the bus to get to a shelter. I gave her the money and told her to stay inside to keep warm. She was nearly in tears and told me "God bless," before hurrying off to the bus stop. I don't mean to say this to brag or anything; I just wanted to make the point that even a small gesture can make all the difference to a person.

While there are some people that lie about their situation, there are others that truly are setting aside their pride and beg for help because they need it. The last time was in the big city, I couldn't believe just how many soldiers---with their uniform, military ID cards out for proof and a hat---out on the streets asking for spare change. What irritated me more were the fact that there were people in suits and ties, coffee in their hand and warm jackets, not even bothering to look at the men that sacrifice a lot to protect their country as they passed by.

I'm sorry; I didn't mean to get irritated and ramble. My point is, if you can't spare the change, don't just ignore the fact that they are there. Like with the veterans, I wish more people would at least spare just a few seconds to say thank you to these soldiers for their sacrifices.

The last time I did, the woman followed me for five minutes. In the end she was a fake. It was very unfortunate.

when I have spare change, I do. Most of the people in my area are poor, so I try to help out when I can. I don't know who's being honest or what, but I help out because that's who I am, it reflects off their bad karma, not mine.

No. Often, it's because I don't carry cash (which is always my go to explanation as well) but I never really do even if I do have my wallet on me.

It also often happens when I'm in the city at night, and I'm not going to stop and pull out my wallet full of money, I'm just trying to get out of there most of the time. And also I'm a teenage girl - we're pretty much taught to beware of everyone.

Sorry.