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I have a pretty strict do not give policy. Just my experience from living over 30 years in this city that most, not all but most are drug users or run some kind of scheme. I give to charities.
Performers are different. If I really like what the performer is doing I'll reach into my pocket. For instance there is duo that usually plays on the A train platform at Fulton Street (manhattan) during the PM rush hour. One dude on the sax the other on the base. They are bad ass. I always give them some money.
while i'm not in new york, i...to a certain extent understand what it's like dealing with the poor. atlanta has a HUGE problem with panhandling, so much so they were planning legislation to ban it. sometimes i give, sometimes i don't. i've been tricked by some of the pathetic stories before. one that i vividly remember is a guy talking about how his house caught on fire and he needed money to pay for a few more nights in a hotel and he was interviewing for a janitorial position at one of the hospitals (it sounded legitimate), i gave him a $20. a month later i saw him again, and he had the same story. he came around, and people gave him money...he looked at me, apparently remembering me, immediately broke eye contact, hung his head, and walked away. i don't regret giving it, because i gave with the right intentions, but i said from that point on i would help...but not monetarily. so i've given my leftovers or cigarettes...
while i'm not in new york, i...to a certain extent understand what it's like dealing with the poor. atlanta has a HUGE problem with panhandling, so much so they were planning legislation to ban it. sometimes i give, sometimes i don't. i've been tricked by some of the pathetic stories before. one that i vividly remember is a guy talking about how his house caught on fire and he needed money to pay for a few more nights in a hotel and he was interviewing for a janitorial position at one of the hospitals (it sounded legitimate), i gave him a $20. a month later i saw him again, and he had the same story. he came around, and people gave him money...he looked at me, apparently remembering me, immediately broke eye contact, hung his head, and walked away. i don't regret giving it, because i gave with the right intentions, but i said from that point on i would help...but not monetarily. so i've given my leftovers or cigarettes...
I hate to feel made a fool of. I think most are scamming. Religion tells us to help those who are less fortunate. The thing to do is to find a charity or house of worship where they have mostly volunteers and if there are paid employees they are not paid at the top of their field, and give there.
I hate to feel made a fool of. I think most are scamming. Religion tells us to help those who are less fortunate. The thing to do is to find a charity or house of worship where they have mostly volunteers and if there are paid employees they are not paid at the top of their field, and give there.
yeah, i should look into doing that as well...the church i went to when i was younger would ask it's members to donate a plate, just one plate (although most would bring many more) from their thanksgiving, christmas, etc dinner. the church itself would cook a dinner and take the plates out to the homeless in some of the poverty stricken areas and others they would donate to homeless shelters that were unable to adequately handle those in need...i was thinking of volunteering around the holidays at shelters, etc.
Here's the problem..while it's true that you don't always know someone's 'story'...however there are homeless who actually do not want help. Some really are only interested in getting cash for their next drug of choice. This is why I prefer to give to the actual organizations that are there to help. Like City Harvest for instance. That's a great charity.
A long time ago, there used to be a seemingly blind man begging for money. He'd be at the same street corner every day. Then one time I accompanied my co-worker to OTB (when they were still around) and there he was. He was filling out betting slips obviously able to see quite well.
Like I said, you never know.
Most of the local beggars I know personally..I know who's on dope...who is not...and who is new in the hood...Times I give - and say...you owe me two bucks...they say they will pay it back...if I see them a week later - I mention the money...they don't like to pay...so I bug them and give no more...finally some of them have extra and I get my money back...nothing wrong with teaching them that lesson...to be responsible and take it as a loan.....the ones that don't get the concept...I yell at them across the street..."Hey Todd you bum...where is my two bucks?"
Those that are right offs..who dash to the crack pipe with any charity granted - get nothing...to hell with them.
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