giving to the homeless

[mdrummer5]

I work in a decent sized city where rush hour leads to a lot of traffic through most of the parts of town that lead to a highway. Because of that there are some parts where at literally every corner you pass there is someone standing there with a sign indicating that they are homeless and need whatever one can spare.

My problem is that I have a hard time with it because I know that some of them will take that money and rather than getting food or water they will buy booze or cigarettes… just curious as to some others’ thoughts on this.

 

[purplesunshine]

Don’t.

There are WAY too many resources in America to ever give to panhandlers.

 

[tabbey48]

I think there are at least two possibilities…

We can take time to get acquainted with the person we intend to help, understand their situation and do something to really help them (as opposed to doing something to make ourselves “feel good”)

Or we can give our support (time and resources) to an organization that takes time to understand the needs of the people it is serving.

Just handing money to people we do not know is rarely an answer to any of their real problems. It just makes us feel “warm and fuzzy.”

I encourage you to get involved and make a REAL difference!

 

[LDNCatholic]

I work in a decent sized city where rush hour leads to a lot of traffic through most of the parts of town that lead to a highway. Because of that there are some parts where at literally every corner you pass there is someone standing there with a sign indicating that they are homeless and need whatever one can spare.

My problem is that I have a hard time with it because I know that some of them will take that money and rather than getting food or water they will buy booze or cigarettes… just curious as to some others’ thoughts on this.

Bring McDonald’s vouchers or a couple of sandwiches with you in the morning if you want to give. I haven’t heard of too many shops that will trade sandwiches or coupons for booze and cigarettes.

 

[purplesunshine]

Bring McDonald’s vouchers or a couple of sandwiches with you in the morning if you want to give. I haven’t heard of too many shops that will trade sandwiches or coupons for booze and cigarettes.

I wouldn’t do any vouchers…becuase they might sell them to a kid for half price or something for money. And with food…it often ends up getting tossed, unfortunatly.

 

[mdrummer5]

Or we can give our support (time and resources) to an organization that takes time to understand the needs of the people it is serving.

I actually had this same thought… there’s a Haven of Rest location not 5 minutes from where I work. I don’t have near enough spare time to volunteer but they do have need for food donations which I can easily add to my own grocery list and drop off on my way home from work

 

[purplesunshine]

I actually had this same thought… there’s a Haven of Rest location not 5 minutes from where I work. I don’t have near enough spare time to volunteer but they do have need for food donations which I can easily add to my own grocery list and drop off on my way home from work

Perfect!

And if they have business cards (or even on your own you can have them printed) hand them out to those who claim homlessness and hunger.

 

[Joe_5859]

I point them to the local Catholic Charities office.

I agree with tabbey48 that, when we give to panhandlers, it is often about assuaging our own sense of guilt rather than a genuine attempt to help them. If we want to help them, it takes more than simply slipping them some cash and going about our business.

 

[manualman]

OK, I spout this a lot. True christian charity has THREE major benefits:

1. The physical need of the poor person is met.
2. The giver encounters Christ in the poor.
3. The poor encounter Christ in the giver.

#1 above is actually the least important element in the long run. But 2 and 3 don’t really happen when you pass $5 out a car window at a street corner. They might happen if you can spare the time to walk with the guy to a McDonalds and spend some time talking while he has a meal.

Otherwise, I’d suggest giving that amount of money to an organization that employs sincere believers that DO have the time to establish relationships with those they help.

 

[tabbey48]

OK, I spout this a lot. True christian charity has THREE major benefits:

1. The physical need of the poor person is met.
2. The giver encounters Christ in the poor.
3. The poor encounter Christ in the giver.

#1 above is actually the least important element in the long run. But 2 and 3 don’t really happen when you pass $5 out a car window at a street corner. They might happen if you can spare the time to walk with the guy to a McDonalds and spend some time talking while he has a meal.

Otherwise, I’d suggest giving that amount of money to an organization that employs sincere believers that DO have the time to establish relationships with those they help.

 

[promethius95945]

They might happen if you can spare the time to walk with the guy to a McDonalds and spend some time talking while he has a meal.

So true! Once after mass at the cathedral in Mobile, AL, I noticed a poor man come in and kneel for awhile and pray. As I was leaving the church (by now, almost empty), the man waved at me and asked if I could spare anything. I told him I didn’t have any cash, and he said he would take food (this was my indication that the man truly was hungry).

There was a… um… I think it was a popeye’s chicken right around the corner, so I told him if he’d ride his bike and meet me there, that I’d buy him lunch. When we got there, he told me all he wanted was a water and the $3 lunch special (rather socially conscious, even given the fact that this week I was at church in slacks and a sports coat). I was shocked, and told him that at that rate, he should pick out WHATEVER he wants on the menu to have for later.

When we get to the front of the line, what does he order? Two $3 lunch specials. Off of the whole menu and I’m telling him to get two of whatever he wants, and he orders two of the cheapest meal, and chooses to drink water.

I don’t know why, but it was an extremely moving moment for me. Just thought I’d share that great things happen when you get involved with the person you’re helping, even if it’s only in a small way like standing and talking to them in line at a restaurant…

 

[AlwaysCurious]

So true! Once after mass at the cathedral in Mobile, AL, I noticed a poor man come in and kneel for awhile and pray. As I was leaving the church (by now, almost empty), the man waved at me and asked if I could spare anything. I told him I didn’t have any cash, and he said he would take food (this was my indication that the man truly was hungry).

There was a… um… I think it was a popeye’s chicken right around the corner, so I told him if he’d ride his bike and meet me there, that I’d buy him lunch. When we got there, he told me all he wanted was a water and the $3 lunch special (rather socially conscious, even given the fact that this week I was at church in slacks and a sports coat). I was shocked, and told him that at that rate, he should pick out WHATEVER he wants on the menu to have for later.

When we get to the front of the line, what does he order? Two $3 lunch specials. Off of the whole menu and I’m telling him to get two of whatever he wants, and he orders two of the cheapest meal, and chooses to drink water.

I don’t know why, but it was an extremely moving moment for me. Just thought I’d share that great things happen when you get involved with the person you’re helping, even if it’s only in a small way like standing and talking to them in line at a restaurant…

Awesome story.

 

[Keith_W_OR_USA]

I work in a decent sized city where rush hour leads to a lot of traffic through most of the parts of town that lead to a highway. Because of that there are some parts where at literally every corner you pass there is someone standing there with a sign indicating that they are homeless and need whatever one can spare.

My problem is that I have a hard time with it because I know that some of them will take that money and rather than getting food or water they will buy booze or cigarettes… just curious as to some others’ thoughts on this.

A long time ago I was homeless for thirty days. I found the vast majority of these people begging are not homeless or are just using the money to feed a bad habit or addiction. The best thing to do is to give money to St. Vincent DePaul, the Salvation Army or a local homeless mission. If you give the charities $10 towards their feeding programs they can feed up to 6 people per day on that donation. If you give $10 to a homeless person they can buy a few pints of wine.

 

[Joe_5859]

A long time ago I was homeless for thirty days. I found the vast majority of these people begging are not homeless or are just using the money to feed a bad habit or addiction. The best thing to do is to give money to St. Vincent DePaul, the Salvation Army or a local homeless mission. If you give the charities $10 towards their feeding programs they can feed up to 6 people per day on that donation. If you give $10 to a homeless person they can buy a few pints of wine.

I had a guy approach me in a parking lot asking for money a few months back. The very next day, I saw him in the checkout line at Wal-Mart where he pulled out a huge wad of cash to pull out a few bills to pay for his purchase. We made eye contact and I could tell he recognized me. It was a somewhat unsettling experience.

Not that we should assume that every single panhandler is being deceitful. But I definitely think it is more beneficial for all to utilize the infrastructure in place to help the poor.

 

[thistle]

I work in a decent sized city where rush hour leads to a lot of traffic through most of the parts of town that lead to a highway. Because of that there are some parts where at literally every corner you pass there is someone standing there with a sign indicating that they are homeless and need whatever one can spare.

My problem is that I have a hard time with it because I know that some of them will take that money and rather than getting food or water they will buy booze or cigarettes… just curious as to some others’ thoughts on this.

Here in Manila begging is not only rife but the beggars are part of syndicates (willingly or not). We often take food with us in the car and if we are approached we will offer the food. If the beggar does not want the food but asks for money we do not give it because that will certainly go to the criminal bosses. More often than not, though, they accept the food. At least they can eat and do not hand that over.

 

[nahbios]

I agree with everyone talking about giving food - if they are in particular need, they will eat it or save it for later. And the idea of pointing them towards a Catholic charity for the homeless is a great idea, as is volunteering or helping out such a charity in some way.