Were we had?

[debilorrah]

I have had to beg before, and it was at a point in my life where I was addicted. So I always give food, not cash. But what this person did was her gut and I support that.

 

[cwc362]

debi sound like you got turned around and I support "that" Congratulations -- don't even know you and I'm happy for you--Wayne

 

[silkiechicken]

I must be hardened from going to school in Seattle. I ignore anyone on the street or anywhere while going from point a to point b. If anyone comes up to me while headed to a car, I go to a different store, different place. Lock doors and move with a purpose.

 

[Chicabee19]

I like to give things away too... and I don't care what the 'reason' is. It's the giving that matters -- the putting out into the universe of that feeling of loving others. The giving is between you and your maker, and the taking is between the receiver and their maker.

It's always good to give, no matter what.

That said...

I dated a guy once who had some friends from Grants Pass who had better houses and cars than we did, and they all had jobs.

They would go out on the weekends and stand on corners in Portland -- with their children in their oldest, dirtiest clothing holding signs that said "haven't eaten in three days", "will do anything for food", and so on.

One weekend we saw them counting a huge pile of cash in their car. I asked how much it was and they told me it was $5000.00!

I asked how that was even possible, and one guy shrugged and said "people are basically lazy. Rather than take the time and effort to offer us a job or some food, they just hand a little cash out the window as they drive by. It adds up."

EDITED TO ADD! -- this would not stop me from giving a little cash to a woman standing out there with kids, just in case.

 

[RTRChick]

people like that will have to answer for what they've done. It makes other people not want to give to people who truly need it.

 

[chilling in muscadine]

I guess the giving stuff would really depend on where you are. On the south side of Atlanta you have to be leary because if you pulled your wallet out there is a good chance you would be mugged. You get hardened from the environment you are in. I do remember one street guy that worked the corner's with a sigh and his sigh read "I ain't gonna lie about it I just need a beer." At least he was honest about it. PEACE

 

[lockedhearts]

Quote:
I totally agree. I always try to do the right thing, but somethin about parts of Atlanta make you re-think what the "right thing" is.....

 

[Chicabee19]

"I ain't gonna lie about it I just need a beer."

Good one.

I LIKE that guy! ... he had a sense of humor

 

[okiemommy]

Not sure whether you were scammed or not, but food for thought, I forget my cards at home often. Why? Cause they should be in my wallet or purse but aren't. Why not? Because I have ADD and I will take it out and say ok I don't want to lug my whole purse, I just want to take my card, put it in my back pocket and get what I need. Works great so far. Problem with it is, if I go home and forget about the card(always do) and take my jeans off throw them on the dirty clothes pile, the next day I go to look for my card and for the life of me can't figure out where it is, or why it's not in my wallet. So yes, that in itself is HIGHLY possible.

But other than that, I have friends that work at the local homeless shelter.(the wife works at the homeless shelter, the husband works at DHS) Our city passed a bus pass initiative a while back to give out free bus passes to people that are in need of a means to get somewhere and get services, meals, help etc. Our friends have seen time and time again that these people refuse bus passes(to the shelters that serves the meals that they say they are hungry for) and when they do get them, they try to sell/barter them for cash, drugs, alcohol.

All that to say that in our city we have programs in place to help the homeless and even get them transitioned into being able to stand on their own, but there are those that refuse it because the shelters have a no drugs policy. Not only will they not allow drugs, they won't allow someone who is on drugs to stay at the shelter(because someone on drugs can be a danger to others on many levels, especially depending on what drug it is) Now addiction is a strong and awful thing, and I know full well the strength of it. So the people that refuse the bus passes stand out on the street and beg. We know this first hand b/c our friend that works there, knows the clients well, and has see the ones that relapse into addiction, or refuse the help for their drug addiction out on the corners begging!

Here when you give to a person out on the street, you are either feeding their addiction, or lining someones pockets with money that is in addition to the money that they make at their 9-5 job.

My conscience prevents me from feeding someones addiction.

And people that already have a job that are scamming me out of my hard earned money that I am trying to feed my family with......


Our church also has a ministry to help the homeless b/c it is located right in the middle of downtown. The church supports the local shelters b/c they already have the programs in place to really help these people. To give them help to get out of addiction and into standing on their own two feet, and to help the ones that come in that don't want to stand on their own or can't due to mental illness.


If you really want to help the homeless or destitute, go in and buy the momma's formula for her that way you KNOW that is what it's being spent on. Follow the person to the gas station, let them fill up and pay for their gas. If that's not something you want to chance due to safety, be leary. Find a shelter that has a track record of sucess in addiction recovery, and home transition, and give to them.

 

[chilling in muscadine]

Quote:
I totally agree. I always try to do the right thing, but somethin about parts of Atlanta make you re-think what the "right thing" is.....

Hey, you probably have heard of the place I used to live, "Stewart Ave." I think it's called Metropolation now. It's hard to try and help someone in that area. It was like when you would make it home safe everyday you would say a prayer and thank god. whew!!!