Everyone has their hand out....

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

There can be an ongoing reward in giving.

Not long ago we donated our van to a faith-based local charity, one that helps youths with substance abuse problems. I had had a local mechanic check it over to determine what it needed, and told him we would donate it to a charity willing to fix it up, so everyone knew what was up.

I'm sure the mechanic gave them a deal to fix it up.

I see it every now and then, with the group's name lettered on the side, and each time I do my heart smiles.

I can imagine how big a smile Bill Gates' and Warren Buffet's hearts have.

Come to think of it, the hands out thing, last time I was at Wal Mart (yesterday), that group was there soliciting donations.

[mdurette Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mdurette]

Ya know....I read this post this morning and thought about it. We live in a small town and very rarely are asked for anything. Well this morning I went to the small city 10 miles away.

1. Local firefighters at an intersection with their boots to fill. Ok gave $1.
2. Young woman with no apparent association to anything with a coffee tub walking up and down asking for donations for defense???? No thanks - window up.
3. A group of about 15 teenagers all with camaflouge running up and down a busy interestion. Nope.

I very rarely head into the city - no need - but thought it was funny timing since I just read thread this an hour before.

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

There can be an ongoing reward in giving.

Not long ago we donated our van to a faith-based local charity, one that helps youths with substance abuse problems. I had had a local mechanic check it over to determine what it needed, and told him we would donate it to a charity willing to fix it up, so everyone knew what was up.

I'm sure the mechanic gave them a deal to fix it up.

I see it every now and then, with the group's name lettered on the side, and each time I do my heart smiles.

That's my kind of giving.

My Father was taken off the streets and helped immensely by the Salvation Army. When he passed, I inherited his car. An older vehicle in decent shape. My son drove it for a little bit (his first car) and then moved on to something else. I could have sold it for a few hundred dollars BUT I decided to donate to the Salvation Army for their resale program. They did sell it for a 1,000 dollars. I have a tax receipt. They made 1,000 dollars. They helped my Dad. I helped them. It's good karma and I also have that same smile in my heart.

I ALWAYS put money in the collectors at Christmas time for SA as well. It helps that I have a personal connection. I think that's how a lot of chartiable giving begins. Having it crammed down my throat doesn't work for me. While convenient to just throw down an extra dollar at the check stand, it feels too "salesy" to me....and we all know how we feel about (timeshare) salesman. I get the same vibes.

I'll choose my own recepient-thanks.

[pkyorkbeach Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pkyorkbeach]

I have learned...I smile and say No thank you, I am all set....

It works, and I do not feel guilty

[M. Henley Class President Find all posts View Profile Close M. Henley]

At Church Today

Young State Police Sergeant has two small daughters, 5 and 7. One has cancer, the other lukemia. Both are in St. Judes, Memphis, TN.
On impulse, I placed a $100 bill in my right palm, shook his hand and left it with him.
Probably will repeat next month.
If you think you have troubles, just look around a bit.

[joycapecod Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close joycapecod]

Young State Police Sergeant has two small daughters, 5 and 7. One has cancer, the other lukemia. Both are in St. Judes, Memphis, TN.
On impulse, I placed a $100 bill in my right palm, shook his hand and left it with him.
Probably will repeat next month.
If you think you have troubles, just look around a bit.

I think what is meant by this topic is the feeling of being expected to contribute. What you did was your choice and you KNEW where the $ was going.

On another note, I cannot imagine the pain this young family is experiencing.

Joy

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

There are always those that will beg, that is all they do, but I wonder if more was given to those who have fallen on hard times, would there be as many people at the check out line or outside of stores asking for handouts?

M. Henley gave willingly, I have given to the food shelf (and have used it in a past life). But if those who are concerned that 'it is mine, I earned it and I am going to keep it' were a little more giving, may be there would be a little less requesting at other locations.

It has been reported that companies are larger in cash now than they have been in many years. These are companies that are not hiring, so people who were let go are still out of work and are running out of unemployment checks. I have been there too.

[pkyorkbeach Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pkyorkbeach]

The poor family. Very sad...

It is easy to help out in many ways with local churches, food banks, donating to Good Will and the Salvation Army...My mother donated her car to a group after her friends daughter died of kidney failure. Our family donates by all of the above including dollars taken out of our paycheck for United Way...

My take on this post was that everywhere you go lately a worker is asking for donations. Not only the people on the street.

This is a difficult economic time for many many people.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

It seems like eons ago, but it was a topic similar to this that was my last thread OY, when one of the favored ones made a crack about panhandlers accosting him in the streets.

The thread was about recycling . . . It's Hard to be Green .

[Fern Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fern]

I decided a long time ago what my charities would be. They are ones which feed people (local food bank and soup kitchen) and those supporting women's causes (shelter, etc). I've added hospice to that, and a couple more which affect me personally.

Those are the ones I choose to donate to. I detest going to the supermarket and being asked by the checker to donate to the cause of the week. I know they are doing their jobs, and I feel for them. But it is distasteful. It is done in such a manner that you feel that you need to say more than "no," lest someone think you are a cheap b*tch. I generally say, "Sorry, but I have my own charities."

I also belong to the Sun City Anthem Women's Club. We raise over 40K a year for women's causes through raffles. We also do "adopt a child" for school and "adopt a family" for Christmas, and provide books, etc. It makes much more sense to do this than give a dollar or so at the supermarket.

As for beggars at the gas station and in parking lots, I don't see that at all where I live or frequent. It may happen in other areas of town (and I do, in fact, see one sign holder at I-15 at the Flamingo offramp--it appears to be his job, cause he's been there for years). I know whenever I return to California I am amazed at how prevalent it is.

Fern

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

I support local homeless missions as well as a program that our church is involved with to assist homeless men get back on their feet again.

I do not give a cent to people who have their hand out at off-ramps and gas stations. The charities that I support report they have space available and can accommodate anyone who comes to their door. Periodically they reach out to "homeless" people who are begging at freeway offramps and similar locales, offering a place to stay and assistance.

They are almost always rebuffed, generally for one (or both) fo two reasons.

First, if they came into a shelter they might have to live with "rules". What that means, in essence. is that they might actually have to be accountable to someone for their behavior.

Second, some of those folks are actually making pretty good money panhandling. I have a good friend who was an IRS auditor until he retired. His office actually did some audits for some panhandlers, and found that the best of them were taking in more than $30,000 per year (generating $100 per day or more) tax free.

****

I totally support helping people who are down and out get back on their feet. I have zero interest in being an enabler for destructive and irresponsible behavior.