What kind of lifestyle are you enabling if you give to pandhandlers?

I will give on occasion. It's an intuitive feeling (I guess).

This is somewhat amusing... Once I gave a destitute man who was outside a grocery store asking for change a 20.00 bill. He immediately started saying "oh my gosh, oh my gosh" and ran into the store.

Yes he bought groceries and I (and many others) could hear him going down the aisles with an occasional "oh my gosh".

I don't think I will ever forget that particular incident.

But yes, there are those who make a kind of profession out of it but I know them, where they panhandle and I won't give them anything.

In Seattle it was discovered that there were/are panhandlers at several of the exits/entrances of the freeway (I95) who practice their trade at rush hour (when the exits are jammed). I have seen them going up and down the lines of cars soliciting the commuters.

It was found that many of them made in excess of $900/week.

HankD

 

Here in WA State there is WorkSource which is associated with the WA State Employment Security Department (ESD) where one can receive assistance finding a job and even training for a new vocation.

WorkSourceWA dot com.

HankD

 

I tend to allow my human analytical skills to begin working the moment I spot someone on the road or at an off-ramp. "Why are they here on pay days as opposed to the middle of the week?" "Why are they standing when they have crutches?" While I think we should be careful and wise with what God has given us, I fear that sometimes my need to ask for quick discernment is drowned out by my a judgemental attitude. In any event, I rarely give money if a sign says need food. I buy a meal. If I'm on foot and approached, I generally start a conversation, asking delicate but direct questions to see if the need is genuine and to better get to know who and what God has just allowed into my life.

 

I almost always strike up a conversation to see where the Lord leads. I am interested to hear their story (some are untruthful, but the truth usually comes out after talking to them for awhile). I have given money a few times, but mostly meals.

 

Wow, I have used the VA for forty years. I am not disabled. I did not know that was on the face of the VA ID card. Thank you.

 

Thank you. I have used the VA for many years. I did not know disabled vets I'd state disabled. Thank you for that.

 

When I lived over in C(r)ook County Illinois, there were many forest preserve trails that I'd ride my bike on. One trail I rode on frequently crossed a major intersection, and there was a homeless man on one of the corners with a "homeless, please help" sign. There was always a pretty beat up bike there with him, so one day I stopped and struck up a conversation with him, asking him where he stayed. He said he usually stayed in one of the picnic shelters in the closest picnic grove (about 1/2 mile from the intersection) when the weather was warm and a mission or homeless shelter when it was too cold to sleep outside. On that day, I did give him a few dollars (all I had in my bike bag) but on subsequent rides on that trail, I would toss a few extra granola bars and bottles of water in my bag, and if I saw him at the intersection, I'd give him the extra stuff I tossed in my bag. I even did some light bike maintenance on his bike a time or two.He could never thank me enough, and I was glad to do it.

About six months after moving back to Indiana, I took a drive over there a few times to that intersection, but didn't see him. I'll still drive past if I'm ever over that way, which isn't too often anymore, and never see him anymore. I often wonder what became of him.

 

I rarely give money. - can't remember the last time I did.
I have given my lunch - and once saw it tossed over a fence after I gave it to the guy.
There are way too many abusers of the system.

Locally we have a group called "Advocates of the Homeless and People in Need"
The group provides needed assistance in a humane, friendly way and maximizes the use of donations.

The group offers training to volunteers - as a health professional it is important to note that more than 90% of the homeless have mental illness of one type or another - reason (such as asking for ID cards) doesn't always work the way it should.

Rob

 

Let me relate a missed opportunity - an incident to encourage other Christians to consider circumstances to witness.

About 6 years ago I frequently traveled downtown to Children's Hospital with my daughter via commuter train.
On our way back, while waiting to purchase a return ticket, We saw a ragged man arguing with the ticket agent.
He was a bit short on the money needed for a ticket - I didn't have any cash so I didn't even try to help.
After a minute or two he was quite agitated and eventually scrounged up the cash and angrily descended to stairs to the station - only to physically assault another commuter and end up arrested before our eyes.

Thinking about it awhile on the trip home, I thought I should have asked him if he was a veteran (whether he was or wasn't didn't matter) - and then honored him with a free ticket.

It was a opportunity for witness I regret.

Rob

 

Advantage of rural life, I pretty much know the details on the few panhandlers I see. None of them are "professionals" like in that video.

 

Yes, there are many valid beggars but also the "valid", sometimes it takes discernment.

There are enough organizations in America where no one actually needs to be a beggar especially in WA which is very liberal towards the needy.

Help for the real ones I certainly approve including those who are emotionally driven to "drop out".

HankD

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

Not much discernment needed there.

HankD