Shocking Sight in Indian Land (Sharon, Donalds: insurance, houses, buy)

[diertac]

Yesterday morning I saw something in the Indian Land area that shocked me to no end. I live just off 521 south of the state line, and on my way into work, I take Harrisburg Road, stopping at the 4 way stop with Barberville.

If you've ever taken this route, you'll know it's somewhat rural with spattering of home developments going in. I pass horse farms in some places, and at this intersection there's a quiet nursery on one corner, some single homes on the other corner, and nothing else. It's definitely not "suburbia" by my definition, and it's certainly not urban.

But yesterday morning at 7:30 AM there was a gentleman standing on the corner, holding up a battered whiteboard sign on which I could barely make out "PLEASE HELP. GOD BLESS". I had no change, or money for that matter. I don't carry money with debit cards these days. But as I sat in that long line at that 2 way stop I was shaken to see someone panhandling for money, out in the outskirts of nowhere.

The economy is getting very bad for everyone, including our neighbors. I don't know where this man came from. I can only guess he might live in one of the small houses a short walk down the street. It says something about how disastrous this recession is when you start seeing beggars on every street corner, not just where you expect them in the cities.

I couldn't help this guy yesterday, and I didn't see him this morning, but I normally don't drive in as early as I did yesterday. But what I can do is remind everyone here to donate to your local food banks and shelters this season. If you still have a job, please take some time and look for a food bank/food drive bin at your store or office and make sure to put something in there for people who need it this year.

Here's the street corner. Hardly seems like a prime spot for begging, does it? It just goes to show the times we're living in:

[sixinthefamily]

You are very kind . Thanks so much for posting. In the past week both my father who worked for GE for 30 years and my sister who was at her title insurance company for 7 years were laid off. These are hard working people. It is so easy to go from making ends meet to not being able to. Trying to enter the workforce myself I can say how difficult it is to get a job right now.

[flyingscotsman]

I will never give to a pan-handler, though I will buy food, I once handed my takeout breakfast to somebody, the joy on their face was worth not having breakfast.

[Wiggin]

Originally Posted by flyingscotsman

I will never give to a pan-handler, though I will buy food, I once handed my takeout breakfast to somebody, the joy on their face was worth not having breakfast.

I don't give to panhandlers anymore either. Two incidents led me to this decision.

First, a few years ago I worked at Eastland Mall, and there was a guy that looked like he was homeless that would stand at the end of the long road leading on to Sharon Amity with a sign asking for money. Well, one afternoon I was in the bank and saw someone that looked familiar in line. Then it hit me, he was the "homeless" guy from the mall, but now he was all cleaned up, wearing neat and clean clothes that seemed relatively new. He then pulled out this huge wad of money, and said to the teller that he wanted to deposit it in his account. It was obvious that he was not homeless, but that his "job" was to panhandle.

The other incident was one day I say a guy with a sign that read "will work for food" at the corner of Idlewild and Independence. Instead of giving him money, I went through the drive-thru at McDonalds and ordered several hamburgers to give to him. I figured they would save well, and feed him for a day or two. Well, when I pulled up to hand him the burgers, he looked at me and said "what do you want me to do with these? I don't want any hamburgers." I was shocked, he wouldn't even take them. Trying to appear that he is so desperate for food that he is willing to do anything for some, yet refused food when offered. That burst my bubble and my naivety.

So now, I'll give to a food bank, a specific family in need, or some other cause that I feel is truly in legitimate need. Never again will a panhandler get anything from me.