13 year old girl knocked our door....You will give her MONEY or FOOD?
By speedytypist
@speedytypist (572)
United States
March 6, 2011 3:00am CST
Few days back, somebody knocked our door. I thought it was a "trisikad driver" that my father asked a favor to send some food in the house as he usually did.(Father has other family and he tried to give us something by sending us fruits, fishes, vegetables, etc every morning only if he have money). And it was a food knocking in our door. When I opened the door it was a 13 year old girl with spoiled clothes, uncombed hair, pale and she talked to me in a soft voice. I just came back in the house after 10 months as I was visited my mother in the province. I thought she was only a neighbor looking for my sister-in-law. I asked her who is looking for, and replied "I want some money" for food. I talked to her for a while asking her some questions about her family. She said, her both parents were dead in a war somewhere in Basilan, here in the Philippines. I asked her, where is she staying now and she said at her uncle. I doubted that she was a "Badjao" a group of people or tribe here in the Philippines and she confirmed it. They are most likely asking for alms in the street. I always gave alms to people begging in the street especially with children or old women. One time I gave alm to the woman who sit besides the street and I accidentally found her somewhere gambling the coins she got from alms. It made my eyes wide and feel differently.It made me careful whom I will be helping or giving alms next time. So, I told the girl that I can't give her money. Instead, I will give you food if you want and she agreed. So, we gave her food ( rice and fish) which we have for breakfast. The girl, was so happy about that food and she left. I was thinking to give her some clothes but she already left. What you will do if you are in my position? You will give her money as she was asking for it or give her food instead that she need that what the money is for?
2 people like this
14 responses
@ajamiro (160)
• Philippines
6 Mar 11
Right choice. I will give food of course, for which the money that we will give those beggars will be gone anyways because of gambling. That's why, when a beggar asked for alms, then I see to it that I give food. Its nice to be kind to them but some of them spits on you if you will not give them anything. That's the new evolution of beggars today.
2 people like this
@speedytypist (572)
• United States
6 Mar 11
Hi Ajamiro,
I
Yes, I agree. They will spit on you or cursed you if you will not give anything.I was pinched by a "Badjao" before who are begging for money. The worst thing is that if you give money to one of them, she/he will call the rest of the beggars and everybody will ask from you, like 5 to 7 people. Sometimes, it scares me a lot...hehe.....
1 person likes this
@darlene06 (284)
• Philippines
6 Mar 11
kids like that girl also knock at our door step begging for moneyfor them to buy food. But we don't usually give them money. We often give out our old clothes and school bags and some food to eat. To some kids who collect garbage as livelihood, we reserve our plastic bottles and some old news paper so that we can give it to them and they can sell it for them to earn money for their families. We don't give them money for the reason that they might become dependent on us who can give them money.
1 person likes this
@speedytypist (572)
• United States
7 Mar 11
HI Darlene,
Yes, Keeping empty bottles, cartoons, papers etc is good idea to give them and for them to sell..thanks for the reply.God bless...
1 person likes this
@bloodclick (245)
• Philippines
14 Mar 11
So your so kind.. ^_^. If you would ask me, "should I give money or food?", I would say, why choose if you have both to give. In some cases, beggars usually spend their money from alms to some stupid things just what you have said but, who cares?!..
A person ask and what your task is to give. Now It is not our responsibility anymore if they spend their money and found themselves nothing to eat.
Now if he goes back and asked you again., do the same right thing. more than food or money, give your help.. ^_^
@HikaruSilverion (12)
• Indonesia
7 Mar 11
I want to give food because in my country, there are many poor people who live without money, food, and fresh water. It's very devastating in here. Rich people become richer and poor people become poorer. It's kind of reality in this world. I happen see them when nobody want to give money to old lady. That old lady, seeing no money she got while she had to eat and drink. She just grabbed any nearest trashes, trying to get some food from it although she knew it was stink and dirty. Don't ask me what she drank because it's very sad. The government once had a law that they would treat any poor person, but for the real one, I never see it.
@speedytypist (572)
• United States
7 Mar 11
Hi Hikaru,
Yes, you are a right. You have point. Poor become poorer and rich become richer. But I also realized that we need to get out from our comfort zone and explore the world. It's true that sometimes it's hard to find a job but in small ways we can do it if we are only persistent, well determined and put everything into action. Thank you for sharing. It saddened me also to see children or old women digging the garbage bin to get something to eat. We will help each other and our community, I guess.
@speedytypist (572)
• United States
14 Mar 11
Hi tush,
Oh yeah, so you will give him money and food. yes, i wish i could help her and give her some work
@fragilewings (316)
• Philippines
21 Apr 11
I'd rather give food than money if someone ask for alms. I encountered a little girl who was asking for money. I tried giving her my burger but the girl refused; she insisted for a money instead. I got iritated because she refused the food I'm giving her and was insistent to get a money from me. Though she demanded for money, I didn't give her a single penny. I'm not being mean to that beggar; it's just so happen that I don't want to give out money only to find out that it will be used for something bad.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
6 Mar 11
Hi. speedytypist. I will give her food. This is a sad situation to be in, it really is. I hope that she can get some money so that she can take care of herself. I just don't want her to squander the money that you give to her. There is this man in our town, that walks around town asking others for money. I have even seen him sleeping inside of the Health Department on the bench. I thought that he only needed my money only, but he was going around asking others for money too. I saw him while I was on the 2nd floor. I really do feel sorry for children that have no where to go and nothing to eat. An agency should help this child, so that she won't be left on the streets.
If this girl did not leave so soon, I would have contacted a homeless shelter for her.
If this girl did not leave so soon, I would have contacted a homeless shelter for her.@speedytypist (572)
• United States
7 Mar 11
Hi cream,
Yes, I want to do more than giving her food, like introduce her to the DSWD...that's the agency here who taking care the street children. But she left immediately after getting the food we gave. Hope she is okay.....God bless.
@med889 (5941)
•
6 Mar 11
I would give her food too because at least her stomach is full and what will happen if someone finds the money with her and steal it or do something nasty with her to get the money so we have to be very careful about all these things around us, it is good that you gave her food after all.
@speedytypist (572)
• United States
7 Mar 11
Hi Med,
Thanks for the reply. Yes, Food too.:) God bless
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
6 Mar 11
hello,
I don't give money to beggars on the streets.
I gave money to charities and orphanages and also home for the aged.
Like what you have witnessed,we do not know where these people are spending the money that you have given them.
So better give food...that's the best you can do.
Have a great day
@speedytypist (572)
• United States
7 Mar 11
Hi Jaiho,
Giving money to orphanage and charity is very generous. I agree with you, We don't know where they will be spending the money.
@speedytypist (572)
• United States
7 Mar 11
Hi Jenn,
You are right, Job is the best choice. But she left immediately after she got the food. She was even uncertain to answer where she live. She mentioned with her uncle, then with this, with that...Hope she is okey....God bless
@asliah (11137)
• Philippines
6 Mar 11
hi,
for me, i will give her a food instead of money, because im not sure if where she will use that money, because there's a lot of children used a rugby, they ask for money and they will buy that thing, so i will prefer always to give them food instead of money.
@speedytypist (572)
• United States
7 Mar 11
hi asliah,
Yes, you are right, Rugby is another thing that they might spend the money for....God bless and thanks for the reply.
@kohiljain (24)
• India
6 Mar 11
I will give her a food instead of money the small child ask for a money and they make a bad use of that money so people also should give food instead of money ...
@speedytypist (572)
• United States
7 Mar 11
Hi Koh,
Thank you for sharing...Yes, Food is better to give to them than money.! God bless.
@speedytypist (572)
• United States
7 Mar 11
Hi Jeng,
Yes, Rugby and gambling is common. Thanks for the reply. God bless
