Panhandlers: It Never Ends. (submitted for your amusement)

[RobertJ.]

Years ago in downtown Seattle (back when we used to go there) a homeless guy approached me with a can of flowers, and asked if I'd like to buy one for my lady. I was pretty sure he had picked them from some hotel's landscape, but I admire an entrepreneur, so I asked how much. He said two dollars, so I gave him three.

 

[DWalt]

I mentioned earlier about panhandlers with puppies. Not too long after I wrote that this afternoon, I went out and saw one of those. Except this dog was not a puppy but a fairly large pit bull mix which did not look underfed. His cardboard sign said something about helping him to feed his dog.

 

[Frank46]

Some spots in NYC had window washers. If you stopped for traffic they'd run out and clean your windsheild. Then hold their hands out for money. Things got too much for the people stuck in traffic and someone called the cops. Traffic moved fine for the next few days. Few days later there they were out again. Frank

 

[twodog max]

The closest I have ever come to having to pull my CC weapon was with a belligerent cursing panhandler in a Wal mart parking lot. He got super aggressive and followed me to the truck.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

In the Sherlock Holmes story "The Man with the Twisted Lip" Conan Doyle tells of a "respected businessman" who found being a professional beggar far more lucrative than a legitimate job.

 

[Tom S.]

My response to the "I need gas" scam is that I will call the police for them. If they are out of gas the police will help. If they are running a scam, the police will 'help' them in a different way. The scammers always seem to leave right after that.

I truly do not know how people can be like this. It's a shame because in a case of a person really being in a bind, I would be willing to help but it's too hard to say who is legitimate and who is not.

 

[SweetMK]

If you Google "methadone clinic roanoke va",,,
you will find that the clinic it RIGHT NEXT to the local Home Depot,,

Well, I had to quit shopping at HD,, and switch exclusively to Lowes because of the clinic.

You could not get from the parking lot to the store without being approached.

Numerous times I saw the store manager working at denying a refund to customers wanting to return an item without a receipt!!

Store credit was unacceptable,, they want CASH!!

 

[Sistema1927]

When I first came to the church that I pastor, some 34 years ago, I soon discovered that the former pastor had been a "soft touch" and handed out cash indiscriminately to anyone who had a tale of woe. I often wondered if there were some hobo code chalk marks outside that read "suckers live here".

It is almost impossible to weed out the truly needy from the grifters, so I came up with a plan. I had been buying my gasoline at a store down the street, and made an arrangement with the manager. I put $50 in their care, and told them that if someone came in to the store with my business card and a request written on the back with my signature that they would honor it. "$5 gasoline", "A loaf of bread and gallon of milk", "Pack of diapers", etc.

Over the next six months, I handed out dozens of these cards. Not one of them was ever redeemed. They didn't want anything other than cash, and didn't care what lies they would have to tell to get it. I eventually pumped that $50 into my gas tank and shut down that failed experiment.

One more story with an important point: We had a special speaker on a cold winter Sunday night. He ran the city's largest homeless ministry. Before the service started, a woman came in and asked if we could help her with $18 worth of propane. She, husband, and infant child were in a motor home on the way to new work in Oklahoma. They had gas but no propane.

I told her that I didn't know where to buy propane on a Sunday night, but that our guest might. He came out to the foyer, and told her that he didn't know either, but he could call his friend who ran a family shelter where they could stay the night, and have a good breakfast before heading out the next morning. The lady said "My husband is too proud to stay in a shelter", to which my friend replied "But he isn't too proud to send you into a church to beg. What you need is a warm safe place for you and your baby to spend the night, and I have told you that we can provide that." She turned on her heels, and walked out in a huff.

The point is that often people think that they need one thing when they actually need something else.

 

[Alpo]

There was a girl in high school, and every day she would ask me for a penny. After a week or so I asked her why. She said she asked everybody for a penny. That was how she bought her lunch. She didn't ask for 50 cents so she can buy lunch. Nobody had any money in 1972. Didn't have an extra 50 cents to give her. But a penny - nobody thought twice about a penny.


I suppose she kept penny rolls in her purse, so she paid the lunch lady with a roll of pennies instead of a handful of loose change, but I don't know.

 

[CajunBass]

Most Creative-
Saw this on a sign up in CO.
‘Need money for Spaceship Repairs so I Return to My Home Planet.’

My wife and I saw one, a guy and his dog. Around the dogs neck was a sign that said "I'm with stupid."

I think I gave that guy a couple of bucks just for the laugh.

Another time, we watched as a fellow crossed the street, spoke the guy with the sign, then took the sign and the original guy left.

Shift break I suppose.

One more story, opposite side of the coin.

I was at an all night gas station late one night. No one else in sight, no other cars. Big, open parking lot, well lit and I could see a pretty good ways.

A young woman was suddenly beside my car. I had been watching but never saw her coming. She gave me the usual sad story, out of gas, needed some cash, etc. Normally I don't have a dime cash on me, but this time I did have five bucks. Something told me "Give it to her," so I did. She thanked me, I turned to hang the pump up and looked around. She was nowhere in sight. She couldn't have run out of sight that fast. Maybe she could have been beamed up to the Enterprise, but that was the only way. Still I figure it was a scam of some sort, but every time I think that I remember my mother saying "There are angels among us."....Maybe?

 

[Derosa]

At one time or another, I've had someone bail me out of jam, so I've passed the generosity along. But I won't give anyone money anymore. I don't want to be an enabler of whatever is causing their problems. But lately I filled a gas tank for some college kids rather than give them money for gas, and for a famlly who was up on the commercial district with a sign that they needed help I went to McDonald's and got sandwiches, coffee and milk for them. That way I figure I've helped people with an actual need without contributing to any possible problems. I've probably spent money on worse things.

My son and I were parking at a movie theatre just outside of Plano, Tx., a few years ago. Two teenagers - boy and girl - , I am assuming, walked up to us and asked for a few bucks for food. They said they had not eaten in days. They were scrawny and dirty and smelled like the back end of a cow. We said no money. But we would take them to a local Whataburger a block away and buy them whatever they wanted to eat. They both jumped at the free food and away we went. They said nothing but woofed done multiple burgers, fries, drinks and when done said thank you. My son and I missed the movie, but, we did not care. The hour with them was well worth it. Son and I have done this several times here in the Dallas metroplex.

Yes, I have spent money on probably less worthwhile folks, but, at least I can see the end result.

My two...

 

[glenwolde]

My wife used to carry those "tuna kits" with a small can of tuna, a packet of mayo, and some crackers in her car. She'd pass those out to the "hungry".

 

[DWalt]

I remember reading a story about a guy who had built a large collection of beggar signs. He would ask a beggar if he would sell his sign for a couple of bucks, and they usually did. I guess there are collectors of everything.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

My church, and others in the area, work with the various "social services" agencies. Iron Rule-gift cards. If someone needs "gas money", "hungry children", etc...lots of nasty turndowns.
My church had a Back to School Supplies drive. That puzzles me, this is a pretty affluent area, I came frome a family of modest means and one of my youthful memories is going to the variety store/Five and Dime with my mother, picking out my pencil box for the year, later buying my ring binders. But times have changed. The flyer said "Backpacks should be in new condition." The two I contributed, I bought at a rummage sale and a thrift shop, whoever gets them, if they don't like it, they can take their business elsewhere. At Yuletide my church has an Angel Tree with gift requests from "needy" families. One year one woman took the one for a Peppa Pig playset-she found out it costs $90.00. The watch caps I contribute to the Warmth Tree are ones I find while out walking or bicycling. Throw them in the laundry and....
In my day, breakfast was something kids had at home, talked about at school. Nowadays it's the other way around.
I left Active Duty-Army-in June 1971. There was that sad story of the MOH winner who went back to Detroit, tried to pull an armed robbery and....
All the stories about the "crazed Vietnam vet" started in 1975 or so, invariably involved someone who was in the Rear With The Gear, drug user,
OTH discharge, etc.

 

[MRB1]

Hope I'm never in that position. BUT, I would never consider lowering myself to the begging level. Pride and self-esteem might starve me to death, but there's honorable help out there if it's wanted.

 

[Xfuzz]

Don't give to the roadside humps.
But if approached it is EZ to tell if it is a legit request
for help from someone in need.

If I can spend hundreds of $$$ on some dang handgun...
I can give some mope a couple bucks.

 

[LVSteve]

I mentioned earlier about panhandlers with puppies. Not too long after I wrote that this afternoon, I went out and saw one of those. Except this dog was not a puppy but a fairly large pit bull mix which did not look underfed. His cardboard sign said something about helping him to feed his dog.

Back in the day my father noted that he'd never seen a poor person short of beer and smokes. After one of his visits here and a cruise through one of Vegas' seedier streets, I suggested he add pitbull to his list.

 

[Marine Corps Air]

True story.

Several years ago we were in NOLA walking down Bourbon Street. One of the panhandlers who was sitting down on the sidewalk was a young woman in her early twenties. She was holding up a sign that read "Need money for weed!"

I didn't give her money. I was shocked. I have seen many panhandlers in my day, but none with a sign like this one. To this day I regret my mistake. If she had that much chutzpah, she deserved some $$$.

Bill

 

[Bekeart]

I have met that poor man

There was that sad story of the MOH winner who went back to Detroit, tried to pull an armed robbery

I met that poor man several years ago. He was pleasant and kept to himself.
Not good financial condition, but not begging or panhandling.
I have a copy of book he wrote "A Man Called James" if my memory is correct.

An area law officer considered James potentially dangerous because of his unarmed combat skills.


Bekeart

 

[ladder13]

No money, not feeding your alky/drug addiction, food yes. Food is what you need, right?

I’m a bad person.