Panhandling $$$ ???

[R Socey]

I wanted to do a poll, but howto- escapes me now? Anyway panhandlers have increased dramatically.
Question : Do you give:
Never
Sometimes - explain
Always
I give sometimes when I see an obvious physical handycap - up to $20.00, but usually only a few. Depends on weather I just got paid or not. Thank you for your participation. I am very interested.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

When I worked in Shady Grove there where panhandlers at the intersection of 355 and Shady Grove Rd. every afternoon.

Knowing what I know about that particular group, I wouldn't give them the time of day let alone any money.

 

[mscher]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

I give, for my own karma, if nothing else.

I have a lot. They likely don't have much.

 

[QC]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

I did some checking and tried to create a poll here for you. No way to do it that I can find unless you are actually in the process of creating a new thread. There is a box near the bottom of the page to check . . . Sorry. If you want to start a new one, with the poll, I'll move these posts there. Your call.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

I don't give anymore. The last time I did was an old woman at the grocery, crying as she said she needed money for the bus to get home to Fort Lauderdale (about 10-12 miles). I usually don't give but she seemed so genuine. When I came out of the store, she was giving the same pitch to someone else. If she was telling the truth, I had given her enough money to ride the bus for three days. Never again.

For a while, several months ago, there was a girl (looked in her 20s), relatively attractive, standing at the traffic lights. To her credit she was a hard worker at it because she would be there from early morning to late at night. She was on our way to and from our salon so we saw her a lot and saw how many cars were giving her money. We calculated, given the number of hours she was out there, she was taking in about a thousand dollars a day (assuming $1 per car that gave). Man, goo job.

The latest scam I've seen many times in the last 3 months is people saying they ran out of gas and need money for gas. But they are never AT the gas station, which would be the logical place to get people to help you with gas money. I have seen one guy in our salon parking lot on 5 different days. His gas gauge must be broken.

So, I'm a no, never.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

Their is often those at a intersection I went through on my way out to lunch and once I decided to take one of them up on it,,, the I Need work guys , I told him to hop in I had about 5 days of work in my shop for him. He ran the other direction.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

I usually don't give to the guys standing at the intersections, especially after I witnessed one walking from his begging spot and climb into a relatively new Explorer and drive off

However, after spending over half my life seeing people who are truly down-and-out, when I feel that it's genuine, I'll give a few bucks. It's not going to change my life at all but it might change someone else's.

 

[JRJ]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

I don't but my wife does. I got a little irritated even writing this.........

 

[R Socey]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

I did some checking and tried to create a poll here for you. No way to do it that I can find unless you are actually in the process of creating a new thread. There is a box near the bottom of the page to check . . . Sorry. If you want to start a new one, with the poll, I'll move these posts there. Your call.

Thanks for your attempt to help - I think this will suffise; it seems to be adequate.

 

[R Socey]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

When I worked in Shady Grove there where panhandlers at the intersection of 355 and Shady Grove Rd. every afternoon.

Knowing what I know about that particular group, I wouldn't give them the time of day let alone any money.

Yea, did you notice the guy who picks up trash - always at that intersection. When the cars stop he picks up trash, when they start moving, he throws it back down for the next bunch - hell he works harder than me, but not very productive.

 

[rivermouse]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

I have given about a buck several times over the years. I was approched once by a guy asking for help cause he was hungry while I was in line at a burger drive through. He thought I might give him some money under the pretence he would go in and buy some food. I outsmarted him by saying I would just pay for a burger for him when I reached the window,,,,,NO WAY! HE THREW HIS HANDS IN THE AIR AND WALKED OFF SHAKING HIS HEAD talking to himself.. Guess he wanted to dine at a better restaurant...Another time while I waited in my car for the wife I noticed a guy working the intersection with a sign asking for help etc. My wife was late and I was there long enough to see him walk across the street and get into a nicer car than mine and drive away...

 

[12vMan]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

I used to occasionally but never anymore unless it is well beyond a reasonable doubt that it's a sincere case.

My brother is an alci who chooses to live his life, or what he has left of it, this way. Our family tried for years to help him by making it our mission to get him straight. You name it we did it. I even gave him a job sanding and finishing cabinetry where he lasted 2 weeks, then I'll never forget what he told me as he quit: "I can't take this stress anymore. I'm going back up to Northern Ca and live by this lake I love. I have some nice corduroy (this was some 20-25 years ago) shorts and a clean shirt I wear and stand on a corner and bum change from people driving by. You'd be surprised, I can get $50 in an hour! Then I go buy a bottle of wine and sit by the lake and let the day go by." With that I gave up on him ..and anyone else I see panhandling unless I am totally convinced they are in genuine need of real one-time assistance.

 

[generator12]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

Exiting the Kennedy expressway onto North Avenue in Chicago, you reach the stoplight at the end of the ramp. There's ALWAYS a panhandler at the light, and sign ALWAYS says "looking for work". Different days, different panhandler, but always there. Yeah, I think, this is the place where you'll find a job alright.

No, I give 'em nothing.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

I used to give to panhandlers occasionally, but not anymore. I see many on off-ramps and think to myself that they'd make more money if they were at an intersection with a STOP sign rather than a traffic light.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

There is one lady that stands at various locations within half a mile from the office with a "Will work for food" sign. She has been there since late 2008 on a daily basis. She does take the weekends off though. She was quite convincing at first as it was the big economic slow down at that time. I have got into the habit of handing her job application forms in an envolope for local places she is standing very close to at the time when they are hiring.
I guess her current occupation pays better !!!!

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

Best one I ever saw was a guy standing at an intersection with a cardboard sign that read "Why lie, I want some beer". I had to admire his honesty. I gave him a couple of bucks torward his goal.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

My wife and I just raised $1200 for a co-worker who is living less than paycheck-to-paycheck and has a baby with severe birth defects. This co-worker doesn't have time to panhandle cuz she's too busy WORKING.

I know the economy is bad and many are unemployed and underemployed but there are more than enough jobs. I have a ton of respect for a guy working at a convenience store. I have none for a panhandler.

 

[hostage]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

I like to help people, though at the same time I like people to help themselves. A lot of the time "helping" people with money is only enabling them. Misery is a great motivator for self improvement.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

My experience in big cities (Detroit mainly) became that I couldn't trust the guys lookin' for a handout. Best bet if I was starting to be convinced of a dude on the corner with a sign was to swing back by with a loaf of bread and jar of peanut butter (cheaper and lasts longer).

Nowadays, I do more to support the local shelters. The Nashville Rescue Mission suggest the same (BTW) - that you direct them to the shelter and not give the handouts any longer.

 

[Philip_G]

Re: Panhandling $$$ ???

Yea, did you notice the guy who picks up trash - always at that intersection. When the cars stop he picks up trash, when they start moving, he throws it back down for the next bunch - hell he works harder than me, but not very productive.

the exit I take to get home occasionally has a panhandler on it, there's been 2 or 3 over the last year or two. The next day when they're not there I always notice they leave their gatoraid and plastic water bottles laying around, it annoys me.