Do You Give Money to Beggars?
By Jessica
@missjessicadawn (3286)
United States
January 16, 2016 10:47pm CST
Wen you make it to an intersection and see a man standing there with a sign, asking for food, what are your thoughts? Do you feel sorry for the man? Do you get angry because you assume he's just going to use any donations for alcohol?
I used to help them out whenever I could. I would give them a few bucks and then feel good about myself for doing the right thing. Later, I learned that sometimes they use the money for drugs or alcohol. Or sometimes they don't even need the money, they are just trying to take advantage of people. I was very upset and stopped donating money. Then I realized that it was these types of people who are making things horrible for the people who truly need help. I'm not helping those in need because I'm automatically assuming they are the ones who abuse the situation. How fair is that for them? It's not their fault.
Now I'm not sure what to think. I thought of just donating anyway because if they abuse it, it's their own fault. At least I did the right thing, right? But then, what if they buy alcohol with my money and something terrible happens because they got drunk and made poor choices? I would feel responsible.
I guess I'm just stuck going with my gut instinct when I see them. Or maybe I'll just avoid giving them cash and just buy them some food or something.
What do you do in these situations?
25 people like this
25 responses
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
19 Jan 16
I look for their partner, there is always a partner. We just saw one Saturday and sure enough under the underpass was his partner having a smoke. I have seen them taking a break and having a Dunkin Donuts Coffee. No I won't give them a penny, I do however give to legitimate charities that support the real poor not those who make a living panhandling.
2 people like this
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
20 Jan 16
I get where you're coming from. For most of them it's just an easy way to take advantage of people and get their money.
1 person likes this
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
20 Jan 16
I wondered the same thing. I've watched some youtube videos where people have interviewed them and learned about their stories. It's sad to hear how they got there.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
17 Jan 16
I used to give money but not anymore. I donate money to charities or organizations instead. In my area on the news there were several reports where people would stand asking for money but in reality they have nice cars and homes. Some even witnessed their transformation of standing with a sign to driving off in a nice car and followed them. It went viral on the news and for people to be aware. But, I see giving food is a better option than cash though.
1 person likes this
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
20 Jan 16
I've heard of people doing this but I always gave them the benefit of the doubt and assumed that they were just being given a ride by a helpful person. :-/
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
17 Jan 16
Philippines has an anti mendicancy law, guess what,the fine for the giver is a mere 50 cents
which is rarely enforced. I have a soft spot in my heart but you are right, thought of what they would do with the alms prevents me sometimes from giving. Even the street children, you give one and they won't stop pestering you only to see them sniffing solvent later. Oh God, I would go with you to just trust our gut instinct to whom to give.
which is rarely enforced. I have a soft spot in my heart but you are right, thought of what they would do with the alms prevents me sometimes from giving. Even the street children, you give one and they won't stop pestering you only to see them sniffing solvent later. Oh God, I would go with you to just trust our gut instinct to whom to give.1 person likes this
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
20 Jan 16
You can get fined for giving people money? But it's your money! Shouldn't you be able to do what you want with it?
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
20 Jan 16
@missjessicadawn Yes it's really absurd, some laws are. Was watching cable last night and i watched how absurd the prohibition law was in the U.S. back then, fining and and putting people into prison for drinking with their own money so it gave rise to more crime syndicates and bootleggers. I guess we will never see how effective a law is until it's put to practice
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
18 Jan 16
My husband and I have been homeless-we needed a hand up not a hand out. Thank God we had people that helped us! Now that we were helped in that way we always help other homeless people-not all of them are bad or addicts. Not all of them want to be there-we didn't!
No matter what they do with the money you give them-God sees YOUR heart when you help and Blesses you for that. God will be the judge, it's not our job to do it.
1 person likes this
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
20 Jan 16
This is by far the best comment I've received on this discussion. There are too many people who think the homeless are just being lazy. Sometimes people just go through hard times and things fall apart. They never asked for it. I'm glad someone was there to help you. This really encourages me to want to help more. :-)
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
20 Jan 16
Thank you for sharing your story, by the way. God bless! :-)
@just4him (305965)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
17 Jan 16
When I see them I don't even feel sorry for them. I know it sounds heartless, but I've heard too many stories about these people and how poor they really are.
As for helping them, if you give them money, it's no longer your worry, and you don't need to feel responsible for what happens to something you give someone else.
Example - I give my children money, gifts, what they need. When it leaves my hand and goes into theirs it becomes theirs to do with whatever they wish. I don't have the right to tell them what to do with what I give them.
1 person likes this
@just4him (305965)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
20 Jan 16
@missjessicadawn I can understand how that would make you feel responsible because you gave them the means to poison their bodies. That's why it's better to give to organizations that help people like that instead of helping the people themselves.
1 person likes this
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
20 Jan 16
It's sad that these people are making such poor decisions with the money they get. :-(
1 person likes this
@cherriefic (10400)
• Philippines
17 Jan 16
No I dont. It seems that if you give them money, you are supporting their laziness to find a way to make up something for themselves. I buy flowers from the street vendors as its still working.
1 person likes this
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
20 Jan 16
Some of them aren't being lazy though. That's what bothers me. There are some who actually have sad stories to tell about how they got in those situations and I know they wouldn't choose it out of laziness. It's those people that I don't mind helping, I just don't want to give to the ones who take advantage.
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
20 Jan 16
I don't blame you. Food is the best thing to get them to guarantee they don't abuse your donation.
@meltean59 (182)
• Temple, Texas
17 Jan 16
Those desicions would be so much easier if people were just more honest.
1 person likes this
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
20 Jan 16
Exactly. I want to be able to help the ones who honestly need it.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
17 Jan 16
I would not see someone starve and would buy them some food. I would not give money though.
1 person likes this
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
20 Jan 16
That seems to be the smart thing to do these days.
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
17 Jan 16
A lot of people around here do it for a living. They don't need the money. It's just a job to them. In bigger cities they can make hundreds a day. So no, I don't give them money. I will give my money to a charity over anything, but not to them. Besides, there are plenty of places in my town alone that will help the homeless and hungry. They are just to stubborn to follow the rules.
1 person likes this
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
20 Jan 16
That's sad that they would do that as a job. What is wrong with people?
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Jul 16
I have no spare money even change to spare or else I am in their shoes.
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
17 Jan 16
No it's not often I do give money to people on the streets begging
1 person likes this
@Lolaze (5093)
• St. Louis, Missouri
17 Jan 16
I used to. Then one day I gave a guy 5 dollars because he had a puppy with him. He realized it and got all offended, going off on my for how I 'only gave him money because he had a dog'. I felt like he should've been happy to get anything, never mind the circumstance. He ruined it for anyone I see asking for money now, I won't give it to them because of that one rude man.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
17 Jan 16
Living in the boonies and passing through a town or two I can't remember seeing a beggar in years. Would I give money? No.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (40440)
• United States
17 Jan 16
It depends on the situation. There were professional bums who lived near my son's place in a city. I sometimes heard them discussing how much money they each had.
Then there are others.
Once we were traveling and I was making sandwiches for the kids in our car. A man with a sign stood on the expressway ramp. I handed him a soda and sandwich out the window. He wolfed it down like he was starving.
Then, there was a homeless vet in a wheelchair. His legs got blown off in Viet Nam. I used to give him money and did not care what he used it for.
