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Churchman25

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My mothers has said in the past to me and my sisters to not give money to the poor. She tells us not to because she thinks they will use it for drugs.

What they tell us is that there is a local soup kitchen that these people can go to, and that if we give them money or something that we are doing a diservice. The answer I think is simple just give them food but still if some one looks like they are on drugs would giving them money be considered sin because you are technically feeding there habit.
 
Churchman25 said:
My mothers has said in the past to me and my sisters to not give money to the poor. She tells us not to because she thinks they will use it for drugs.

What they tell us is that there is a local soup kitchen that these people can go to, and that if we give them money or something that we are doing a diservice. The answer I think is simple just give them food but still if some one looks like they are on drugs would giving them money be considered sin because you are technically feeding there habit.
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You don’t know what they are going to do with the money. If you want to make sure they get food and not drugs, spend the money on a few gift cards to local fast chains and hand those out instead.
 
My dad always taught me the same thing. Here’s my personal philosophy.

We were instructed to care for the poor, not micro-manage the poor. Now, if we have it in our power to insure that a homeless man receives the food he needs rather than a bottle of alcohol, then by all means give him the food! But if we see the man on the street corner and our hear tis moved, and the only thing we have is money, I’d give them the money. We can’t know every persons life story, and giving them a few bucks could well see them to their next meal.

I think the intent behind the advice is good, but it’s effects tend to not be good. It breeds assumptions and stereotypes about people who desperately need help. At the end of my life, I’d rather be a person who gave to the needy than one who refused out of fear they would abuse the money.
 
C.S. Lewis once gave all the money in his pocket to a homeless man. His friend said to him “why did you do that? He’s probably going to spend it on beer”, Lewis responded “I was going to do the same thing”. Seriously, the gospel already answered this one for you. Matthew 25:35-40 and for the record, I think the other posters are given inaccurate advice. I don’t beg, but I did grow up poor. I don’t mean “we couldn’t afford the latest model of Mercedes” poor, I mean that I lived off of food we grew and ramen noodles. I was (thank goodness) never homeless (though I did live in several motels). And so what if they spend that money on drugs or alcohol? That’s not why you gave it to them.
 
If you don’t want to give poor people money then don’t. Maybe you find it more useful to give them food or clothes then do just that.
 
My dad advised me never to give money as aid to relatives and poor with the exception of nuclear family. He said give in kind. Buy food, pay school fees, buy house or pay rent .

Here in Africa, sometimes the poor beg and when you give money, the try to bewitch you with the same. However, sometimes you know someone who is in want and they could use money for various things that you cannot provide. My take is you can give money.
Because of fear of witchcraft, our priests advised us that if we give money to the needy, we accompany it with narration- So and So, this is yours.i.e you have cut ties with the money and if they bewitch you with the same. This bewitching project practically collapses on them.

Lets help our poor in all possible ways, its God who really knows who uses the help we give effectively. Bottom line, God always takes care of the giver if we involve Him.
 
I would perhaps learn the ins and outs of help…

However after encountering a man who needed some I had decided to research and print out papers with a list of services I could hand to beggers and such…

I found for this single father there was Zero institutional help available as the only way outside of giving him money for him to have a place for him and his son was going to be to send his son off to help alone 😦

Still don’t know if the story and purpose was scam for sure, and I will never know… but occasionally there really is no clear help for someone.
 
Churchman25 said:
My mothers has said in the past to me and my sisters to not give money to the poor. She tells us not to because she thinks they will use it for drugs.

What they tell us is that there is a local soup kitchen that these people can go to, and that if we give them money or something that we are doing a diservice. The answer I think is simple just give them food but still if some one looks like they are on drugs would giving them money be considered sin because you are technically feeding there habit.
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I can’t read souls, so if a beggar says asks for money for food, I believe them and give them some money. If they have lied to me and use that money to feed one of their vices, that is between them and God. If I refuse and they go hungry because of me, that is most certainly between me and God.

I do not want to be in the group on Christ’s left that is told: “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;”

Saying “go to a soup kitchen” is the modern version of Scrooge’s line asking about Prisons and workhouses. Giving to these charities (which we should be doing) or giving to the poor directly should not be an either/or, it is an “and”.

Give until it hurts, and then give a bit more, and you will still be better off than the guy begging on the side of the road.

Please read Les Misérables, and then decide whether or not to give a few dollars to someone who has fallen so low that they have to beg to live. In my mind, there is no question what your decision will be.
 
You can donate to shelters that do this specifically as a living, or a Catholic soup kitchen. You can give only food/clothing/ect. instead of cash. And you can’t certainly tell if they are on drugs. Maybe, even better, is to volunteer at a local catholic soup kitchen. Or just donate extra to your collection basket at Mass that does the charity for you.
 
I’ve had this discussion many times with people.

I give from my heart … whatever the person does with the money I give, is on him/her.
 
Enabling habits that are destroying their life is not loving the other person well.

Would you invite an alcoholic to a bar and buy him a beer? Would you give a glutton a gift card to fast food restaurant? Would you give a person struggling with lust a plane ticket to Las Vegas?

Meet them where they are, find the need, and help them with it. Giving money may feel good but it’s not good practice. God wants you to be a better steward with your money than just throwing money at the problem.
 
There was a young man who used to sleep around the train station. He was a heroin addict and an excellent pianist. I used to give him money. He overdosed and was found dead in the street. I always worry that my money killed him. Your mother is right. I now give food but never money.
 
FghtinIrshNvrDi said:
Enabling habits that are destroying their life is not loving the other person well.

Would you invite an alcoholic to a bar and buy him a beer? Would you give a glutton a gift card to fast food restaurant? Would you give a person struggling with lust a plane ticket to Las Vegas?

Meet them where they are, find the need, and help them with it. Giving money may feel good but it’s not good practice. God wants you to be a better steward with your money than just throwing money at the problem.
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When I lived in a city where I knew where the Urban Ministry was located, I directed people where they could receive a hot meal daily. I knew what time the meal was provided.

Organizations that work with people in need on a regular basis generally do not give checks directly to the person in need. What they do is write the check to the landlord or the utility that needs to be paid.

I do likewise. I have paid for a person’s gas at the cash register. The most common way in which I will help a person is with bus fare. It is not unusual for a person to not have the exact change required.

I do appreciate how a local store handle my buying food for somebody. The person wanted money for a soda. My response was, “Put out your cigarette and come with me.” I let her choose a soda and then she wanted a snack to go with it. The cashier was discreet in returning my change so she couldn’t see the exchange. There had been a incident in the past.
 
There is a woman who stands on a street corner that I pass every morning. I have given her a McDonald’s card in the past, but I realized I don’t really want to give her one on a regular basis.

She must earn enough money to make it worth her while to stand there. I would like to ask her why she isn’t out looking for work, but don’t want to insult her. I looked for a job for 9 months once and it never occurred to me to beg for money.

There are about 4,000 homeless people in my city. I give money to the church and hope it helps, because the church does provide food and help for people.
It is a frustrating situation.

.
 
Dempsey1919 said:
There was a young man who used to sleep around the train station. He was a heroin addict and an excellent pianist. I used to give him money. He overdosed and was found dead in the street. I always worry that my money killed him. Your mother is right. I now give food but never money.
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That was a hard, hard lesson. my friend. And one others need to heed. Giving money is so easy. I knew someone online who used to get up early, make sandwiches and coffee and sit with homeless people on her way to work. THAT is loving in giving.

One aspect no one has mentioned is that in many places beggars are organised professionals who pay a boss.

I would never ever give money. And yes it IS my responsibility. Jesus bids us feed the hungry. And yes to all who support food banks etc.

I am rarely from home any more now but all I can spare goes to extended family who feed the homeless. Making sure it goes where it is really needed
 
I used to buy the occasional homeless guy a beer every now when I worked in NYC over at Penn Station.

It was always well appreciated.
 
Geist said:
I used to buy the occasional homeless guy a beer every now when I worked in NYC over at Penn Station.

It was always well appreciated.
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I bet it was and good for you! Treats are vital to emotional health!
 
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