Do you give money to beggars?

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milimac

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I tithe and give half of my tithe to charities, but I usually don’t give directly to those begging for it – although on rare occasions I’ll give food if I have any with me.

I feel guilty which leads me to justify not giving them money – “they’ll probably just spend it on alcohol or drugs anyway”, “they don’t look that bad – they’re just scamming people or taking advantage of them”, “maybe it’s one of those sociology experiments to see how many people give to beggars”, “they should spend their free time looking for a job and quit bothering people”, etc. What bothers me most is the possibility of being ripped off or taken advantage of. I suppose this could also happen to the charities I give money to anyway. What also bothers me is the possibility of ignoring people who are truly in need.

I’m curious what your thoughts are and how you handle such situations.
 
I live in a rural area without begger now, but when I lived in Texas, you could donate money to the local mission. The mission, in return, would give you vouchers that you could give to panhandlers. The vouchers were good for meals or shelter at the mission.
 
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milimac:
I feel guilty which leads me to justify not giving them money – “they’ll probably just spend it on alcohol or drugs anyway”, “they don’t look that bad – they’re just scamming people or taking advantage of them”, “maybe it’s one of those sociology experiments to see how many people give to beggars”, “they should spend their free time looking for a job and quit bothering people”, etc.
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Yeah, they could do all that, but what if they really needed the money to eat? Or what if he/she just wanted to get off the street for one night? What if he was homeless and had a family? What if it wasn’t a he and a she, would you be more likely to give? What you do to the least of these …

YES, there are scam artists out there. Why punish the many for the sins of a few?

It’s like giving money to the Church. Why give, they are only going to blow it on a law suite, new car for the pastor, remodeling the Church, etc.

I give to God. I don’t care if God takes my money in a collection plate at Church or in a dirty hand of a begger. It’s all HIS money anyway. I’m just a steward of the funds.

God Bless you,
DHGray
 
I don’t usually; actually, there are very few panhandlers in our little town, so the issue never comes up.

I have been known to give someone a buck or two in the past; however, if they obviously have some kind of vice going on (smoking, drinking, etc.) my comment is, “If you have money to waste on tobacco/alcohol/whatever, I should be asking you for a handout, 'cause I don’t.”

If there were a lot of beggars around, I might give McD’s gift certificates, or something like that. Where I came from in Maryland that usually made them mad, because they can’t cash those in for booze, smokes, or drugs. Tough toenails.

DaveBj
 
Where I live, I see MUCH MORE (BUMS) instead of Beggars

They work the same area at the expressway day in and day out. Which tells me they have pretty much decided to make this way of life their JOB…ie…same place…same time… I simply decided to not be their personal employer.

I do like the idea of giving money to the mission and getting a voucher to hand out…very seldom do I give my money to one on the street… one time I did…and felt good for helping out…the next day, I see the same BUM at the same streetlight shaking his cup at me AGAIN… no way am I obligated to adopt these guys.

There are Missions and shelters in Chicago…NOT MY PROBLEM that these street people refuse to hear a simple sermon in order to get a free meal or a place to sleep just cause they dont want to have the word of God “shoved down their throats” in lieu of a free meal…oh well…

I like to donate when I am able to verifiable Charities…where if people need help they will make the first step…GO TO THAT PLACE, instead of hanging out at the Expressway ramps.
 
I always feel very guilty if I don’t give to beggars. I have read articles in our local paper that said giving them money is just feeding their drug or alchohol habits. I like the idea of giving money to missions and giving vouchers or giving McDonald’s gift certificates. I am never organized enough to do this. I always forget. I must remember to do this and put some in my glove box.

Sometimes I give money, and then I hate that feeling too.
 
Sometimes, usually I’ll give a sandwich. Or offer a ride to a mission.

Doesn’t help that we a have an 16 y/o “Vietnam Vet” out begging at rush hour.

When I was doing sales, I would offer work for a few of them, unloading a truck, passing out coupons, ect. got turned down every time.
 
There are few panhandlers where I live now, but when I lived in a major metropolitan area, I volunteered in a church soup kitchen. I carried 3X5 cards with names, addresses and operating times of local soup kitchens and pantries and pointed them toward the nearest one that would likely be open. Soup kitchen workers should never offer to help from their own funds – clients then tend to expect it from all volunteers, even those who just CAN’T offer that kind of help. . .
 
In the past I didn’t give to them for all the reasons you mentioned and also for fear of my own safety and that of my children.

Somewhere along the line my thoughts changed. I realized I had no right to judge that they might do something “wrong” with the money. I now give them whatever I have in my pocket- which is never more than $10 anyway. :rolleyes:

I try to assume in my heart that the person “begging” 😦 is in true need and that my money will help them in some way, I always say a prayer for them as well.

In addition to charitable work for the poor/needy, I think it is good to give directly to the poor.

There but for the grace of God go I.
 
No, never. Not in NYC, not in Washington DC, not to the gypsies in Rome. But I am a soft touch for charities associated with the Catholic Church.

After Sept. 11th, I received my $600 tax rebate that we got that year from the Bush Admin. and immediately sent it to Catholic Charities for the Sept 11th relief effort. I am not in financial circumstances that I can give that kind of contribution on a regular basis, but it was “found” money that I had done without and could do without. I can’t tell you how happy it made me feel to do that. There was so little else that I as an individual could have done for the Sept 11th victims. So I had such peace knowing I did what I could.

I know my contributions to a Catholic organization support my values and do more good than any other charity.
 
I had the same struggle, and thought about the same questions…Will they use it for drugs or alcohol?

Then I read once that it is a struggle for us to see Jesus in these brothers and sisters, which I agree.

What I try to do now is first, stop and listen to them, giving them my full attention. I do try and keep a few singles in my pocket to give to them, maybe $1 / day, than I say a little pray to myself that God will help them. Occassionally I will buy a sandwich for someone.

I trust God will call their hearts to him, by an act of mercy.
 
I work part time as a secretary for my parish in Toronto. Before I worked there, i felt horrible about not giving beggars money. However, after working at the parish, i feel no guilt. Sometimes, it’s not only the ones who appear to have vices on alcohol and/or drugs that have such vices. When beggars come to the parish office, they meet with the pastor, and explain their situation. He then directs them to St. Vincent de Paul, or gives them money for their immediate need (to get them on their feet, etc.). He will continue to help those in need unless he detects that their story is not legit. For example, one man claimed he needed $80 for a train ticket to attend his mother’s funeral in Quebec. A month or so later, the same man told the pastor that he neede $80 to visit his sick mother in Quebec. Through meeting with the pastor alone, and no other priests at that parish, the pastor can keep these people straight, and their stories. I’d much rather have my pastor helping these people and give to my church then hand out money to random beggars, who may have an addiction or sickness which the money feeds.
My fiance has an aunt who used to hand out pamphlets with the names of shelters and other places to get help for street people. I think I would like to do some research and hand these out as well. I think such organizations could help these people get a job and on their feet a lot easier than my change.
Oh, another thing…there are many people that come to the parish office that have known the pastor for 10-20 years. Some of these homeless people have lived on the streets for 40 years! My pastor has told me that some of them enjoy the street life, and refuse to get a job and get on their feet. I’d much rather give my money to the church, SVdePaul and other groups that can help those who want and appreciate the help, and don’t abuse it.
 
For me it is not a question of guilt anymore. I make an active decision to perform an act of mercy and Trust in Jesus.

I know that I have been given many gifts and graces in my life, most if not all undeserved. I have wasted those gifts and graces, yet Jesus keeps pouring them out on me. So, in being generous I hope these people see God’s Love, not me.

And although I tithe, I consider this opportunity as almsgiving, outside of tithing.

Yes it is possible that these individuals will waste these gifts, however I will place my Trust in Jesus for their spiritual growth.
 
Jesus said to give to whoever asks so I usually give some money. The exception would be if the person were obviously planning to use it for the wrong purpose.
 
My husband and I choose not to give directly to beggars and panhandlers on the street. My mother-in-law is the director of a soup kitchen in our area that serves hot meals to the homeless and needy several days a week, so our donations go to her organization. We know that she will make prudent and responsible use of it.
 
Yeah, I give them money or I’ll go in and buy a slice of pizza if they’re so disreputable looking that the store owner would just throw them out. I don’t give every time, but I’d rather be a fool and give something to a con grifter than ignore someone in need.

Sometimes I buy vitamins, hand wipes, dry shampoo, dog biscuits for the dog – for a couple who sleep in a doorway I pass every day. They like gift cards to Starbucks (must give the proprietors a shock!). I pray for them. I know their names and they know mine.

Are they drug addicts? Yeah. But who would want that life? I’m can’t “fix” 'em; maybe Jesus will.
 
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dmm2000:
For me it is not a question of guilt anymore. I make an active decision to perform an act of mercy and Trust in Jesus.
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This is my line of reasoning. My duty to God is to give. Their duty to God is to use it properly - I can’t make them fulfill their duty and I don’t worry about it. When I recently gave, the guy held my hand for so long as we exchanged "God Bless You"s that I felt like the human contact was more valuable to him than the money anyway.

Peace
 
no, I didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday, and I have spent a lot of time close to street people in Cleveland, Youngstown and Detroit. I do look directly at a person who approaches me and listen to them. 90% of the time the request is for money for food and I invite them to join me for a meal, which they do about half the time. If they ask for other help I direct them to nearby locations where they can get what they need–bus voucher, grocery voucher etc. I volunteer at a hunger center, at ST. Vincent, and a Mexico outreach project. Our family practice is to tithe our time, as well as income, so we if I work 40 hrs a week, I tithe 4 hours, 2 to the parish and 2 to other volunteer work. We have done this for years, and my daughters continue the practice. (my son is one of those on the receiving end of the help, and I thank the gracious people where he lives who do the helping). You see, when I see a street person, I see my son.
 
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Greg_McPherran:
Jesus said to give to whoever asks so I usually give some money. The exception would be if the person were obviously planning to use it for the wrong purpose.
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Amen to that! Finally someone brought up what Jesus would ask us to do!

I only apply this to in-person requests. I do not consider mail and telephone requests valid for various reasons. I may not be following the “letter” of Jesus’ commands, but I hope I’m right that I’m following the spirit of His command.

Alan
 
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