Panhandlers at 1604 and Potranco! (Bandera: violent crime, live, safe)

[Paka]

Trust me, I am as big a bleeding heart as anyone...one of the children that we adopted was from the "dump" in Manila...it is where those that were REALLY homeless and hungry lived...the main garbage dump for the biggest city in the Philippines...and for good reason, there was a daily new food source.

She had worms, parasites and malnutrition so badly she probably would not have lived another 6 months when we hunted down her mother, adopted her, and she is a BEAUTIFUL, SMART, ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE woman (still MY baby girl) who can charm anyone, anywhere....but we learned lots living in 3rd world countries...like those that are the most in need are never seen....like there are those that will EXPLOIT those children to beg to pull at your heartstrings...but really pimp those kids to provide $$ used for drugs and other things.

We give, but ensure that those we donate to use the money for those things we feel are important, the Pearl Buck Foundation, Feed the Children, and other charities where we can monitor what percentage of what we gives actually goes to help those intended to help vs "administrative" costs.

When I quit giving the kids on the street corners in the Philippines $$ and instead started taking them to the nearby place to fill those little bellys...lets just say I KNEW that they were fed and were ok...and that someone was not using the $$ they collected for other than their own good.

[gwrober]

Aw Paka...you're so awesome, I'm not allowed to rep you again (yet)!

[jules07]

Originally Posted by gwrober

Aw Paka...you're so awesome, I'm not allowed to rep you again (yet)!

I was!!! (Finally!!)

And yeah, what he said!!!

[Paka]

Thanks guys...but HONESTLY, WE are the ones that were lucky...we had such FANTASTIC children come into our lives thru adoption...when someone tells us "they are so lucky" we always respond (and this is 10000% true) NO, WE ARE THE LUCKY ONES!

Our children have been such a blessing we thank God every day that he directed each and every one of them into our lives....you know, you take so much for "granted" when you get pregnant with your own...you never sit in AWE and wonder, What if we were a day earlier or later, would someone else have gotten all the joy THEY brought into our lives????????

[rd2007]

Those are definitely the ones that need help and the parents that send them out to beg need something else.. During one port visit to Acapulco some of us talked to a young boy in front of a grocery store and he told this story about how his parents would drive him around to various places and basically dump him off to beg.. It was awful, but at least he was in front of a grocery store and got some real food that night.

[Pete R]

Originally Posted by rd2007

it's usually a "job". I personally wouldn't want to do it, mostly because I have very fair skin and would get the crap burned out of me here in San Antonio.. but they did a study on these people in San Diego and they averaged over $100K/year. It takes my wife and I working together to come up with that, so maybe we're in the wrong carreer field..

In NY before I left upstate the new anchor went out dressed like a homeless guy befriended them and was eventually invited to their home. Yes they have homes and cars ... how do you think they get around town all day?
My friend is a bus driver and the ones that take the bus talk to him like a friend because he has been on the same route just like them ... beleive me when I tell you its not the exception!!

[spicemice]

Originally Posted by KY Filly

I've always heard from professional social workers etc., that one should not give money to the panhandlers. If indeed, they are homeless, down on their "luck" or whatever, when they receive money they usually spend it on alcohol. So, it just perpetuates their situation.

I've heard of so many stories such as the ones stated above where jobs were offered etc., etc. and the panhandlers flatly turned them down. As others have said, they make more $$ by panhandling than working a "real" job.

With all that said, I never give them money but still feel pangs of "guilt" when I pass them by.

I never feel guilty when I pass them and I think if they're going to beg they should earn it somehow... at least write a clever quote on your cardboard, or dance or something.

[rd2007]

hmmm, intersection strippers...

[SpoiledWife]

Originally Posted by luckygreeniii

We saw a guy out by 1604 and Culebra that said he and his family were standed and he had a nice pair of pants, shirt, and tie. Either it was a new hook, or he really did have a run of bad luck.

Saw the same guy at 1604 and Blanco last week.

[gwrober]

Originally Posted by spicemice

I never feel guilty when I pass them and I think if they're going to beg they should earn it somehow... at least write a clever quote on your cardboard, or dance or something.

picture by expressionexp - Photobucket

picture by rabiah_bucket - Photobucket

I have others, but I'll leave them out as they are a little risque....