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I used to buy them food and feel like I'm some kind of a hero. Of course, I'm not stupid and I knew that money is fungible. If others give them cash (and they do) then they don't have to spend cash on food and have more cash to buy drugs (and make no mistake alcohol is also a drug). So they're not directly buying drugs with my cash... but indirectly they are.
So I'm thinking to stop and save my money or find more worthy causes to donate to.
What do you guys think?
No, I never do.
If they are hungry, there are soup kitchens they can go to. I will not reward laziness.
Yeah guys, I think I'm done. I have a good heart but I refuse to be a dummy and finance their recreational drug use directly or indirectly. And like many here have pointed out almost everywhere there are plenty of social services for them including those that absolutely ensure they won't die from hunger. I wish I thought about this rationally earlier.
Donate to appropriate services which can help them, but they need to be in shelters getting services.
Yeah save your money. If you're concerned go volunteer at a shelter where they feed, clothe, provide sleeping quarters for the homeless. And...to make it realy count don't go on the glamour days, i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year Eve, etc. Go on an off day you get a better experience that way.
Sit down and eat with them too. Really opens your eyes (and not in a good way either).
Double check any charities that you give money to.
I once asked a friend of mine who is always volunteering at shelters etc about volunteering on Thanksgiving. She told me everybody wants to do it during the Holidays. It's better to go on and off day as you say. That's when they need you.
I used to buy them food and feel like I'm some kind of a hero. Of course, I'm not stupid and I knew that money is fungible. If others give them cash (and they do) then they don't have to spend cash on food and have more cash to buy drugs (and make no mistake alcohol is also a drug). So they're not directly buying drugs with my cash... but indirectly they are.
So I'm thinking to stop and save my money or find more worthy causes to donate to.
What do you guys think?
Most of these people are grifters, substance abusers, or mentally ill. Donate to someone like the Salvation Army that actually does something constructive with them. Never enable their panhandling behavior.
I just give them the money if that's what they ask for. What they do with it is their business. If they want dope or booze, why should I care if that gives them temporary comfort.
If they want food, then I'll give'em food. I don't make a big deal of it either way. If I give it, I give it from the heart and I wouldn't do it if I couldn't afford it.
Most of these people are grifters, substance abusers, or mentally ill. Donate to someone like the Salvation Army that actually does something constructive with them. Never enable their panhandling behavior.
I find it offensive that you are grouping the mentally ill in with grifters.
Nobody wakes up one day and decides they would really like to have schizophrenia, depression, or PTSD.
They closed all the asylums. Now we house our mentally ill on the street. I'd need a fricken beer if I had to live on the street, too. You sound like a typical " I got mine " kind of callous person.
I just give them the money if that's what they ask for. What they do with it is their business. If they want dope or booze, why should I care if that gives them temporary comfort.
If they want food, then I'll give'em food. I don't make a big deal of it either way. If I give it, I give it from the heart and I wouldn't do it if I couldn't afford it.
That's really cool. My mom once told me ( they live in Sweden ) some older guy had a sign saying something like " please, I need money for a beer".
I mean, at least he was honest.
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Donate to appropriate services which can help them, but they need to be in shelters getting services.
