People claiming to be a charity asking for money?? (Roanoke: how much, buy)

[Teebyrd86]

Has anyone seen those men and women standing around Valley View Blvd. and the airport area holding white buckets barring some kind of organization on the side written in sharpee? I am just curious because I wonder how we know they are legit. One of the ladies actually knocked on my window and when I tried to ignore her she threw the bucket in my window showing the organization name which for some reason I cant remember the name. After I nodded my head no she had a nasty look on her face and went to the next car who gave her a $5 bill. Do you give these people money? I consider my self charitable as I give money out of my paycheck every week to The Red Cross and make other various donations throughout the year but I am afraid to give to these people and wonder if there is some sort of law against this. Thanks for reading I know it was kind of long on the subject!

[Huckleberry3911948]

85% hustle.

[mccamp]

I was up at Valley View today and saw a police officer writing a ticket for one of the folks.

I don't give money to anyone standing on a street corner holding a bucket. Instead, I ask for the organization's information (a card, a brochure, something) and tell them that I'll send a check after I learn more about them. That usually shuts them up.

These folks are also outside the Wal-Mart all the freakin' time. My sons want to hand them their spare change. I tell them if they want to help someone, to take their change, go back inside the Wal-Mart, buy some food for the food pantry and we'll swing by on the way home.

[headnsouth]

Originally Posted by mccamp

I tell them if they want to help someone, to take their change, go back inside the Wal-Mart, buy some food for the food pantry and we'll swing by on the way home.

Oh good, I hope you follow through on that and actually buy food for local pantries. Donations are down for nonprofits these days while at the same time, more and more people are coming to shelters and pantries for food & other necessities. This is definitely the time to increase your own charitable giving if it's possible to do so!

[OuttaFlorida]

My girlfriend works for a major social services non-profit department in the area and works with all of the homeless advocate groups (there aren't that many groups) in the Roanoke area. We drove by them one day on valley view. She's never heard of that group and says its most likely a scam.

[matthews1965]

Nope I don't give them money. I've read too much about the scams - remember the guy that sat near Towers with a homeless sign, and then an article was written about how much money he made from that scam in hi "after work" hours!!! After that I met a man at the lake that said a guy he worked with was trying the same thing in L burg and making a killing. When we receive those solicitation calls we simply state that we will be happy to consider their cause if they contact us in writing!! Gee whiz

[roanoker 4]

The solicitors I have seen around Valley View, Crossroads look legitimate with their matching smocks but I doubt if they are for real. They seem too aggressive and phony. Another reason why they are probably from out of town. I'm surprised they are still around.

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

The solicitors I have seen around Valley View, Crossroads look legitimate with their matching smocks but I doubt if they are for real. They seem too aggressive and phony. Another reason why they are probably from out of town. I'm surprised they are still around.

they are very aggressive and phony

[VALover]

I don't give to them either. I have found that if I make eye contact with them they will stay away.