Panhandling

[jmjj215]

Re: Panhandling

Interesting post MFM - thanks for sharing that insight.

[cercis]

Re: Panhandling

I'm not jewish or buddhist, but both religions have a strong charity command. So much so that in buddhism, panhandlers are often seen as very necessary. You must have someone to give charity to. In judaism, people are often commanded to allow others to help so that those people can perform a "mitzvah".

In christianity, christ said "whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me."

I rarely have cash or change, but dh gives regularly. He always keeps some change in his pocket just for this purpose.

In OKC, I'd often give oranges or whatnot to the people standing on the corner. This actually was a type of job for them. There were "pimps" who would go to the homeless shelters, pick them up, drop them at a corner with a sign, bring them lunch (generally unhealthy foods) and then pick them up - and take half or more of the money they panhandled. They were out there in 100+ heat and below freezing cold. They always seemed appreciative of the fruit. Who knows if they were, but at least they acted appreciative.

[Firefly]

Re: Panhandling

I do not give to panhandlers.

[lisajane]

Re: Panhandling

I depends on their appearance. I find most really dishevelled panhandlers don't want food, they want alcohol. I won't give them money at all.

I once was at the Toronto Harbourfront, and this guy walked up to me said he was homeless by choice, and asked if I would buy him a hot dog. I did buy him one, but it just sounded very strange. I suppose I give to those who hold doors open Downtown Toronto, or to those that are trying to do something creative.

But there was the incident of the shaky lady in toronto who would panhandle, and act all shakey , and look dishevelled. But, people started noticing her walking off, getting in her car and driving back to her apartment. Panhanlding was her "JOB".

Don't think she does that anymore.

[abowers]

Re: Panhandling

In Rochester Ny they made it illegal to panhandle. Also there were several news stories about how these panhandlers were really teens from the suburbs looking for more money for drugs. Pretty cool! One time a bum was on the corner when I was stopped at a traffic light, and he was saying he wanted food. I just left a restaurant where I had dinner and had leftovers. I offered him my leftovers - he refused and told me he didn't want to catch anything from me! That's the last time I offer food.

[lisajane]

Re: Panhandling

It's illegal here in Toronto too, but it still happens.

[cercis]

Re: Panhandling

Oh come on though. Would you eat after someone else? Really.

Just because someone is poor doesn't mean that they should have to suspend all rules of good disease control.

Now, if he was starving I guess it's better than nothing, but still. I would wait until I was to the point of illness before I'd eat after a stranger.

Here's an idea for helping panhandlers - prepare a small lunch bag of items, saninaps, small soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, a bottle of water, a power bar type snack and some nuts, dried fruit, trail mix etc. Include a bus/subway pass, some ibuprofen/tylenol, and some small change. Make up some special bags for women which include tampons and pads. But keep it to a small bag, most homeless people can't carry a large bag around.

[abowers]

Re: Panhandling

It was an untouched half of a sandwich, not leftovers of pasta or something. If you were really desperate, you would eat it. I'm not going to give him money. Oh well.

[robex]

Re: Panhandling

I give change if I have it in my pocket. I won't go into my purse to get it out, though. Last year I asked a panhandler if I could buy him a hot dog. He told me he would love that but he was a vegetarian and politely asked for a vegie dog and a coke. I was happy to do it for him.
Sometimes being treated with a little dignity goes a long way. Everyone comes with a story.

[lisajane]

Re: Panhandling

Wow a vegetarian panhandler. Not bad. I like that. It's nice when they are actually willing to say something. I can't go near a regular hot dog now either. They scare me.

I think the whole panhandling issue, is whether or not they are going to use money for drugs. and why they keep refusing food.

[cercis]

Re: Panhandling

Maybe because they don't like the food offered? Is it really so hard to understand? I mean, how the hell are they supposed to know that it is an untouched sandwich? Maybe they are diabetic and can't eat white bread. Maybe they hate mayonnaise and it makes them throw up so it would have a negative net-effect on their situation (I can't handle mayonnaise or mustard on a sandwich, the bread feels soggy and gags me).

I'm sure if someone is starving literally to death, they'll eat whatever. But if they're homeless and have only missed a meal or so, they can be picky.

Are you offended if someone comes to your house and says "no thanks" when offered something? Even if they were impolite enough to ask for something to eat? Or, do you say "oh, well, I can also do this" etc?

[Armywife]

Re: Panhandling

Whether they like it or not, food is still food. Each person has their 'standards' I guess.

[cercis]

Re: Panhandling

And being destitute doesn't make you have to believe "beggars can't be choosers" means you have to accept everything handed to you. In my experience the people who trot out that line are stingy and selfish and are trying to justify their stinginess in giving away something they didn't want in the first place.

Food may be food, but if it's a food you can't tolerate it's pretty useless, you know? If it makes you throw up, you end up with less nutrition than you started with (like I said, I can't eat sandwiches with any dressing on them without gagging and needing to throw up).

The panhandler who is vegetarian? Do you know that if you stop eating meat, after a while your body starts to lack the necessary enzymes to digest meat and you actually end up extremely ill just because you ate meat? This is why it's a huge deal that you not try to sneak meat to a vegan.

My rule of thumb is that if I wouldn't take it myself, then it isn't good enough to offer someone just because they are poor. Which doesn't mean I don't offer things for donation (because you never know) but that I am not offended or start thinking "well, really it can't be that bad after all" if they don't want what I offered. If someone approached me outside a subway and I had half my foot long, I would say, "well I have this half sandwich I haven't touched" and if they took it great! If they didn't, fine. If they didn't take it, I wouldn't think "well they must not really be hungry" I'd think "well, I wouldn't take that from a stranger either, so I can't blame them".

[marjorie]

Re: Panhandling

I used to regularly see a mentally ill man outside my office. He hung around a park nearly all the time. When he was off his meds he'd take off his artifical leg and chase you with it. I'd sometimes slip $5-8 to the hot dog vendor to let him eat until he had his fill. He often came after the big lunch crowd, and I didn't have to worry about being hurt and he was friends with the vendor so he wasn't in danger either. I've also had the experience of having food or gift certificates for food refused. I've also had someone start crying because i'd bought them hot food. YMMV

[gakline]

Re: Panhandling

I don't give as a rule. I figure if I give to one, why not another one. I'll will give my left over food sometimes. I asked a woman if she was hungry and gave some food (unopened) and then she asked for money too. I was disgusted. I pass quite a few regulars on my way to and from work, and sometimes you'll see them reading a book from the library or with new shoes in their bag, when their feet are bare and they're begging.