Feeding the hungry?
By webeishere
@webeishere (36353)
United States
May 24, 2007 3:14pm CST
I started a discussion the other day about spare change and donating cash to the homeless. Many members responded that they "DO" give food to the homeless. Now this discussion is about in what way did you help them as far as food? Did you give them canned and non-perishable foods like boxed meals etc? Did you go by yourself to say a McDonalds or whatever returning with a bagged meal for them? Did you take them to a shelter during their free meal times? Did you take them to a sit down restaraunt like a Denny's etc for a hot meal? Have you ever really sat down and talked to these homeless people and listen to their stories? Now as far as me I have bought meals from fast food joints and dropped them off to a small family once. They were so appreciative of this kind gesture that they asked me to sit with them in the nearby park and eat with them. Yes they invited me to "their" place for dinner. I had to buy of course. Hahaha. It was a great learning experience as they both lost their jobs, their house etc to the banks. So they are homeless till they get back up in the world. They had an 11 year old son liviing on the street with them also. They both started work just recently too so their on the right track. I've taken one homelss man to a Perkins for a burger long ago also and listened to his tale of death and deception in his family and work place etc. Some of these homeless peoples tales are so sad and yet heartwarming also. Just the other night the spot where a lot of homeless congregate as it's a heavy traffic are to get some change they sleep under a bridge in a fenced in area. It's fenced in as when the city holds a public event like concerts etc they store their recycle bins here. Anyhow there was a big fire and the bins all burtn causing around $30,000 in damage to the bins. It was believed to be an errantly tossed cigarrette butt that started this. So they now lost their "bedroom" also. Anyhow let's hear your story of feeding the homeless. Or better yet if you've ever been "homeless" on the streets needing to ask for handouts please do share that with us all here. Thanks in advance and I'll be eagerly awaiting some of your very interesting & serious responses.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
8 people like this
12 responses
@texasclassygal (5306)
• United States
24 May 07
When I lived in Philadelphia I volunteered every holiday to cook for the men's shelter in downtown, they did not allow me to serve them, but I enjoyed what little bit I could do to help. I did talk to some of the men when they would come to the kitchen to help out, most were just trying to get back on their feet. If I had money I would help them out, most times I just tried to be their friend, someone they could talk to.
3 people like this
@webeishere (36353)
• United States
25 May 07
Back in the mid 70's I volunteered at the Catholic Charities downtown Minneapolis at their kitchen. I cooked then served the food also. Then as the people were leaving I'd always make sure to chat a bit if they didn't mind. I had gotten to know quite a few of these men & women with their children. These weren't all homeless people either. Mostly were just too poor to buy food at the times. It was a touching experience to see this and hear their stories as well. Thanks.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
2 people like this
@lovelydame3000 (1578)
• India
25 May 07
Hi webeishere! I do not prefer giving money as it may be misused. So when i see somebody who say that they have not had food i buy something from the shop and give to them. I do not pick food from Mcdonalds,lol.
@creb11 (416)
• China
25 May 07
Wow you are a so good man!
I am live in china and there are so many people like you said and most of them are handicaped.However most them organized by group and they make money from these so lots of people who see them would pass by.
For me whem I come across these men I will give them some money but not to much as there to many this kind men here.
2 people like this
@mykmari_08 (2465)
• Philippines
25 May 07
I could not speak in terms of dollars, to begin with. Here in our place, we also have beggars especially in the streets. I am deeply awed by the sight of them; dirty clothes & all. When I see one and have spare food, like candies or bread, I hand these to them. Honestly, when I do this, I feel blessed - really blessed.
2 people like this
@cdparazo (5768)
• Philippines
25 May 07
We have this concept of 'children's hour' in my country Grandpa Bob wherein we could donate an hour of our earnings to children on a monthly basis. A lot us here are doing that regularly to help feed those homeless children and to support the programs for their education and growth. On a more personal level, I have a neighbor with only a jobless mother and about 13 children, and we tend to give them food on a day to day basis. However, we are not the only one helping them but also a lot of our neighbors too. We give the mother some odd jobs so that she could earn somehow for her family such as letting her wash the cars and jeeps in the neighborhood. Though, we give them something, but I think it is not only enough that we continue to give. We must also help them become self-sufficient and somehow have more dignity. I am very happy with the project of the head of our community wherein a lot of those families were given opportunities to earn such as employing them to man our community junk yards and segregation area. One of them was even a disabled father. I for one was personally planning to help the women who are jobless and with a family to support by organizing them and training them to have some skills or home-based jobs and then help them secure capital. But about a month ago, our local community head again called a meeting because she introduced a program wherein those families could borrow money for small business capital and have some free training in business so that they could support their family. It's still a long way, but its also a start just the same.
@ezdollarincome (217)
• Philippines
25 May 07
One of the great things that I would like to do in my life is to feed those unfortunate people. It will be a good feeling to help those people and I think I can't explain that feeling. Somebody had said to me once, that if you reach success in life then please do not forget us, she was pertaining to the people who are in need of help. My heart explodes and I know this will make it feels right. The other day a friend told me a great story of someone who was chosen to help people. I was inspired by the story and some day I will have my own story of how in our little ways help the poor people. I forgot to write this one of the discussion posted here in mylot, it was a topic of "what would you be 10 years from now". I didn't mention my visualization of helping poor people, but now I am saying and going back to that topic and add this vision.
2 people like this
@seashore124 (48)
• China
25 May 07
Maybe these homeless need us help.But why these always accept our food??why they do not try to earn some money especially some young?Wo should help the homeless but not the lasy.Am I right??
2 people like this
@webeishere (36353)
• United States
25 May 07
That's it? NO answer to this "discussion"? I did ask some questions you know. Anyhow thanks for an attempt to answer my discussion even though you didn't answer one bit of it.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@mizrae (587)
• United States
25 May 07
I cannot say that I have sat down with a homeless person, but I can say that I donate cans of food when my credit union and the post office have their food drives. Where I shop you can buy a bag of food for the homeless as well, and when I have the money I purchase the bag. For many though, I don't think they pay attention to the homeless. I was glad to see the new movie with Will Smith "In Pursuit of Happiness" based on the true story of one man who was homeless. Has anyone seen it yet? This should bring homelessness to the attention of individuals that might be in a position to provide work for someone willing to get themselves out of this horrible situation. I did volunteer work for awhile for the "meals on wheels" program too but the recipients weren't homeless just poor.
@flowerchilde (12534)
• United States
25 May 07
I'm afraid I'm quite negligent on this.. I never see any homeless folks, living a mile outside of a very small town.. but surely this is no excuse.. Yes, I see I should find a means of donating food. Other than the very occasional food drives of my grand daughter's school.. I do see the food pantry donation 'barrells' once in awhile.. Now I will start actually putting things in there.. I do pray for the homeless, especially when it is very cold.. I was homeless for a little time.. but more of party derelict at the time than anything else..
1 person likes this
@rogue13xmen13 (14460)
• United States
25 May 07
My family and I give as much as we can every year to the homeless and it never seems like it is enough. The homeless need jobs, not just handouts. If want to really help the homeless we have to give them work. I hate to quote the Bible on this but here it is, "Feed a man a fish and you have fed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you have fed him for life."
