So it's pretty common to see people here on the street corners with signs begging for help. There are so many of them that a person just can't afford to pass out dollar bills at every corner. I don't give to them very often, and there needs to be something about them that looks truly trustworthy before I reach into my pocket. In the past I've had people ask me for food, and that I don't mind. I'll buy someone a hamburger if they're starving, but when it comes to cash, well, there's no certainty where that money will go.
So today I was leaving Home Depot and there was an Old Woman standing near the exit and holding a sign, asking for help. She truly looked pathetic, and, yes, I gave her a five. Even so, in the back of my mind, I wonder if I've been suckered. She didn't look like an old drug addict, and she did thank me. Nonetheless, I always feel uneasy about giving money to those folks. I mean, you want to help, but then again, maybe I'm just being snookered.
There's also the possibility that I'm just supporting the problem by giving them money. In this woman's case, she looked beyond eligibility for employment--tired and worn out. But in many instances I see people who look capable. Is giving money to these people Charity Misplaced?
So today I was leaving Home Depot and there was an Old Woman standing near the exit and holding a sign, asking for help. She truly looked pathetic, and, yes, I gave her a five. Even so, in the back of my mind, I wonder if I've been suckered. She didn't look like an old drug addict, and she did thank me. Nonetheless, I always feel uneasy about giving money to those folks. I mean, you want to help, but then again, maybe I'm just being snookered.
There's also the possibility that I'm just supporting the problem by giving them money. In this woman's case, she looked beyond eligibility for employment--tired and worn out. But in many instances I see people who look capable. Is giving money to these people Charity Misplaced?