Do you give alms to beggars you see on the street?

Philippines
March 22, 2016 9:59am CST
I wanted to raise this question because lately i have noticed that the number of beggars in our community seems to increase. The other day as i was walking through the commercial center in my city, I noticed this 2 kids along the street asking money from the passerby's. A girl around 4 to 5 years of age and a little boy maybe 2 or 3 years old. they are both wearing dirty clothes with holes on them. A tourist stopped and gave a 20 peso bill to the older one telling them to buy some food for them to eat. As I was walking to them planning to give them some money, they run and approached an older woman sitting along the sidewalk and gave her the money. I looked at the woman and thought that she's not that old, she looks strong enough to find a decent job. But out of pity i started to approach them to hand her some money when suddenly she took something from her pocket and i was shocked when i saw that she was holding a mobile phone, a samsung galaxy. Who would have thought that this woman who's also wearing a dirty and tattered clothes, looking so poor and homeless would afford to buy this phone. I wonder if she's intentionally telling her kids to beg around. And what about the money, is she going to buy them some food? Or is this beggar thing is just a cover for a syndicate using kids to gain money? At that point, i went to a convenience store nearby and bought some food and drink then went outside. I saw the two kids asking money again from people and hand them the food and they immediately ate it like they've never ate before. My heart goes for the kids but i keep on thinking about the mother using her kids to have some money. I walk away thinking that maybe i'll just give food to every beggar i see instead of giving them money.
6 people like this
5 responses
@LdeL0318 (6402)
• Philippines
22 Mar 16
It's better to give them food than money.
2 people like this
• Philippines
22 Mar 16
yes, i think that would be better.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Mar 16
@LdeL0318 yes, and those poor little kids. they must not be used in this kind of things.
1 person likes this
@LdeL0318 (6402)
• Philippines
22 Mar 16
@abrielle28 I know some which are part of a syndicate. So if you only gove food they will have no mone to give to those who are behind them.
1 person likes this
@Angel_15 (670)
• Manila, Philippines
22 Mar 16
I never give money to beggars because I've been suspecting exactly what you told us. I give them food when I have some.
2 people like this
• Philippines
22 Mar 16
food is much better
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14916)
• Malaysia
26 Mar 16
I used to give, but nowadays I usually do not. There have been many reports in local newspapers showing some beggars are actually very rich, and they treat this as a job! Besides this, more people are taking advantage of others' sympathy, and using the young children to beg, and mostly the parents should be capable to work. If we continue to give alms to beggars, then there might be more kid beggars around. There are actually other ways to help these kids. I don't think the kids should be allowed to beg on the street.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
i totally agree in everything you've said.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (137237)
• Philippines
22 Mar 16
I give alms to the needy if they really need it. But I think the parents should be responsible enough to their offspring.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (137237)
• Philippines
22 Mar 16
@abrielle28 They do have some resources to uplift poverty in our country. However, it wasn't enough.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Mar 16
I wonder what the local government is planning as a course of action to address this kind of problems.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
23 Mar 16
@Shavkat yes, and their plans are not well carried out up to the smallest LGU.
1 person likes this
@rina110383 (24495)
22 Mar 16
I give food if I have one at that moment but not money. I don't want to teach people to be lazy & dependent. If people with no arms/legs/blind are able to work, with more reason that they can look for one. One more thing, we have an Anti-Mendicancy Law that punishes beggars (physically abled) who ask for alms. Since what they're doing is illegal, we should not tolerate it by refusing to give money.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
23 Mar 16
yes, very well said. absolutely right.!
1 person likes this