Pay it Forward! Care for the Poor

[thinkandmull]

thanks buddy

 

[WilT]

thanks buddy

No prob!

 

[WilT]

This reminds me of a time when I began reading scripture/bible and I read that if one sins and uses his hands, eyes…or other means, it was best to remove it. I looked about at my friends in a Catholic study group and nobody was missing any limbs, eyes, hands, and whatever. I learned sometime later that we must remove the things in our lives that create or cause sin to happen. For example, if I indulge in binge eating. I must remove to temptation to eat by controlling(stomach/eyes) my urges to eat, especially out of my normal 3 meal day. Or, if I let my eyes wander too much checking out the women that pass by. If I look to long my mind can and will wonder and I stand a chance of sinning just by lusting over them. Christ said that we don’t necessarily have to do the act, in order to sin, but we may be sinning by just contemplating to want to do the sin. I have learned since that the Holy Scriptures’ readings may have 1,2,3 or even 4 ways to understand them. Pax

 

[bisco]

we had this discussion in my rcia class, there is no answer.

 

[raroberto]

This is an important discussion and it comes at a good time for me. I normally live in an affluent suburb but got to walk the streets of Philadelphia while here on business. There are a lot of people asking for money and I always wrestle with whether to give money, preferring to give food. But this trip, I gave money.

But not just people asking for a handout are poor. We have enormous economic disparities here in the U.S. (sorry, I can’t do much for individuals in the Philippines!). Every time you go to a restaurant, remember that the server is potentially part of the working poor. Most of us use all kinds of services all day long. Are we tipping enough that the person who serves us food can put food on their own table (did you know that the hourly wage in many tip jobs is only $3.85)? Do we pay our own employees a decent wage? Do we support the charitable organizations in our communities? Do we take food and clothing for donation at our churches?

Every day we can do a little something to help the poor. We (yup, I) miss a lot of opportunities because I’m not looking into the face of a poor person who asks. Perhaps we should all look at the panhandler as someone giving us a gentle reminder.

One last note in this overly long post. Years ago during a sermon, a wonderful priest told us, “What you give the person begging is between YOU and God. What he does with your gift is between HIM and God.”

 

[Bekeeper]

Several years ago my wife and I were taking a vacation trip from NJ, down the Eastern Shore of Md and Virginia Beach then back home via the Blue mountains. At a fancy hotel in Virginia and preparing to go out to eat we took a count of our cash on hand. I counted out 4 twenty dollar bills and folded them and put my money clip on them and into my front pocket with my Padre Pio Rosary. Then I had a five and 3 ones and put that loose into the same pocket. We looked out the window at a poor homeless guy sitting on the bench. I said to my wife that the police won’t let him stay long, sad. Out to dinner using a credit card and a nice walk back at the edge of the water.
It was now dark with a little fog and there was the same homeless guy. We talked with him for a little bit and he just seemed a little down on his luck. So I reached into my pocket and gave him in the dark the 4 loose bills, a five and 3 ones or 8 dollars. By the time we got to are room and looked out, he was gone. We hoped for the best.
The next morning at breakfast, I pulled out my money clip from the pocket with Padre Pio Rosary. You guessed it, there was the 5 dollar bill and the 3 ones in my money clip. WE GAVE THE POOR GUY $80.00. Padre Pio has a sense of humor, hey?

 

[filiaecclesia]

I live in a MD suburb and rarely have the chance to go into the city. We never see panhandlers around here. But my son was attending university in Baltimore, so I would see the poor on my visits to him.

I think it’s helpful to give as the poster said above without worrying what the person does with the money. I also think it’s a good practice to have some non-perishable groceries in the car if you know you’ll encounter folks in need, and simply hand them the bag as you wait at the stop light, etc.

Thinkandmull, I understand your “scruples” - it is very hard sometimes to justify our wealth (even if we don’t think of ourselves as “wealthy”) in light of the real poverty and suffering in our world.

One thought is that when we work hard and then spend our money on things, we are participating in the wider economic web that reaches across the world. Think of all the jobs created by our purchasing computers, cars, books, furniture, even pet food! That money goes to employ many people who depend on those jobs to care for themselves and their families. As individuals we may not feel we can make a dent in any poverty but the truth is that as participants in the greater world economy, we are doing some good.

There will always be inequity.

Support your parish. Help the poor the Lord puts in your path as you are able. Don’t waste the precious time God gives you feeling guilty - He put you in this country at this time with the gifts you have for His purposes. Pray for His guidance in all areas of your life and seek to be grateful that you have the advantages He’s given you so you can pray, give, help, and show His love to those whom you do encounter.

Sorry this is so long, but one more thought - review the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. The Spiritual Works are as important as the physical ones I would suggest. We must be concerned with feeding and clothing the needy; we are also called to instruct, pray for, and comfort them. As we all know, our country is overflowing with people who are spiritually and morally impoverished and are crying out for comfort. Perhaps we are called to give of the precious bounty of our time to our parish’s faith formation programs, etc? Wealth can be seen as a variety of things.

God bless you!

 

[WilT]

Several years ago my wife and I were taking a vacation trip from NJ,
The next morning at breakfast, I pulled out my money clip from the pocket with Padre Pio Rosary. You guessed it, there was the 5 dollar bill and the 3 ones in my money clip. WE GAVE THE POOR GUY $80.00. Padre Pio has a sense of humor, hey?

lol. He sure does have a sense of humor. hummm I wonder how and when that $$$ switch occurred?

 

[WilT]

This is an important discussion and it comes at a good time for me. I normally live in an affluent suburb but got to walk the streets of Philadelphia while here on business. There are a lot of people asking for money and I always wrestle with whether to give money, preferring to give food. But this trip, I gave money.

Every day we can do a little something to help the poor. We (yup, I) miss a lot of opportunities because I’m not looking into the face of a poor person who asks. Perhaps we should all look at the panhandler as someone giving us a gentle reminder.

One last note in this overly long post. Years ago during a sermon, a wonderful priest told us, “What you give the person begging is between YOU and God. What he does with your gift is between HIM and God.”

raroberto, don’t sweat it out if you miss 1,2,3 opportunities to help the poor. The Lord will always provide you more opportunities to give and to help although you have to go outside your comfortable, affluent neighborhood to do that. . Sometimes all one has to do is ASK them what they need. So simple, yet we forget to ask them of their needs.

 

[WilT]

I live in a MD suburb and rarely have the chance to go into the city. We never see panhandlers around here. But my son was attending university in Baltimore, so I would see the poor on my visits to him.

Support your parish. Help the poor the Lord puts in your path as you are able.

Sorry this is so long, but one more thought - review the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. The Spiritual Works are as important as the physical ones I would suggest. We must be concerned with feeding and clothing the needy; we are also called to instruct, pray for, and comfort them. As we all know, our country is overflowing with people who are spiritually and morally impoverished and are crying out for comfort. Perhaps we are called to give of the precious bounty of our time to our parish’s faith formation programs, etc? Wealth can be seen as a variety of things.

God bless you!

 

[fastenatingguy]

****Next time you come across a homeless individual let’s help them out with “5 or better” that is $5.oo or better. This can go along way for them for

1. bus fair (they travel from place to place seeking food and shelter)
2. hot meals from nearby fast food restaurants
3. help maintain a phone for emergencies

so let’s pay it forward out of love.

Remember, what we give has been given to us from Him above

Consequently, let’s not worry ‘what they may do with it’ Give that worry to the Lord and give, give, give! PAX :heaven::heaven:

I actually started doing this last year. I just keep a $5 bill in my sunvisor, and reload as needed. I live in Chicago so there are ample opportunities as I drive around the city.

An important thing to do is treat that person as a real person; look them in the eye, talk with them, ask them how they are doing, tell them you will pray for them, and they should pray too. I finish up with “good luck” and “God bless.”

 

[markomalley]

****Next time you come across a homeless individual let’s help them out with “5 or better” that is $5.oo or better. This can go along way for them for

1. bus fair (they travel from place to place seeking food and shelter)
2. hot meals from nearby fast food restaurants
3. help maintain a phone for emergencies

so let’s pay it forward out of love.

Remember, what we give has been given to us from Him above

Consequently, let’s not worry ‘what they may do with it’ Give that worry to the Lord and give, give, give! PAX :heaven::heaven:

Great idea.

Though I think that a combination of cash, “Arch Cards” (Mickey D gift cards), and so on would be appropriate, depending upon the circumstance.

More important is what you said downthread in regard to providing charitable treatment…I think that it is as important to be kind as to provide the money.

There have been several times that I’ve offered to buy a homeless person lunch (be it at a pizza take-out, a Mickey D’s, or a Subway). I’ve also filled the car with groceries for folks down on their luck on a few occasions.

I personally feel that I got the better of the deal in all those cases. I don’t mention them to brag, but to make the point that there are varying thing you can do to help out.

Frankly, I think this is what was in mind when they mention doing the corporal works of mercy…much more than donating money to a particular charity and vastly more than supporting government programs. Christ wanted each of us to be personally involved.

 

[WilT]

I actually started doing this last year. I just keep a $5 bill in my sunvisor, and reload as needed. I live in Chicago so there are ample opportunities as I drive around the city.

An important thing to do is treat that person as a real person; look them in the eye, talk with them, ask them how they are doing, tell them you will pray for them, and they should pray too. I finish up with “good luck” and “God bless.”

Wonderful. True that there is plenty of opportunities to give in case you miss one. Yes, most of the time they bless me… so I end up saying thank you.

 

[WilT]

Great idea.

I don’t mention them to brag, but to make the point that there are varying thing you can do to help out.

Frankly, I think this is what was in mind when they mention doing the corporal works of mercy…much more than donating money to a particular charity and vastly more than supporting government programs. Christ wanted each of us to be personally involved.

Two great points. We are not bragging but sharing our experience with them. I like what you said about it’s better to give personally than through a charitable organization. It has been my experience that $$ is never seen by the poor. I think it gets transferred elsewhere. Today, the Charitable organization don’t have any money to give many of there funds have dried up and the poor have to wait some times of two 3 months for services. When your on the street and hungry one can’t wait 3 months to eat. They don’t have that luxury

 

[WilT]

some of the dangers the poor and homeless go through.

news.msn.com/crime-justice/3-teens-held-in-albuquerque-homeless-killings?ocid=ansnews11

 

[ringil]

Wow… so 5 bucks is that easy for you to give away? Down here, that’s a whole day’s pay for me (and I’m promoted)!

It says something that your country’s poor can possibly get more money than what a two-year, middle-class employee gets in this one.

But you know, I actually don’t mind. I love my job. Enjoy my pay. What I may not love though is the idea that some people can ask for five U.S. dollars on an international, online board and think it’s sooooo easy for everyone.

I can barely afford 50 cents for snacks and that’s a luxury in the Philippines. Funny huh?

Totally unrelated but how in the heck did you get a computer on five dollars a day?

I apologize for my ignorance here.

 

[ringil]

But to the OP. FOr me it doesn’t feel right to guess how a homeless person will use the money they ask for.

I give money to folks who simply ask for it. I don’t give money to the folks with stupid stories about how they need to visit their daughter in X location and so need XX specific amount of money.

I have also - and found it very recreating- when one fellow simply asked me “Can I have a couple of bucks for some beer?”

I felt great for helping this guy out!

 

[WilT]

But to the OP. FOr me it doesn’t feel right to guess how a homeless person will use the money they ask for.

I give money to folks who simply ask for it. I don’t give money to the folks with stupid stories

The fact that your on this thread tells me your curious about helping and knowing about the poor. When you give, give without worrying or wondering where the $$ will go. The fact some of their stories may be crummy shouldn’t affect whether or not we give. Remember of God’s goodness, He gives us many things even though we are undeserving of most

 

[bisco]

sounds like they are giving without wondering where it will go. not sure where the people with stupid stories comes from, an earlier post maybe?

 

[bisco]

Two great points. We are not bragging but sharing our experience with them. I like what you said about it’s better to give personally than through a charitable organization. It has been my experience that $$ is never seen by the poor. I think it gets transferred elsewhere. Today, the Charitable organization don’t have any money to give many of there funds have dried up and the poor have to wait some times of two 3 months for services. When your on the street and hungry one can’t wait 3 months to eat. They don’t have that luxury

this is painting with a broad brush, do you feel this way about catholic charities?