Have you ever...

[EmilieGrace]

Donated a bag of goodies to a homeless person standing on the side of the road begging during heavy traffic times?

I've always felt awful driving by, and not being able to help out. I've always wanted to be able to give them something a bit more practical than money.

Now that I have the ability to stock up on free or very cheap items that don't spoil quickly, I would love to have a bag in my car that I could just roll down my window and give them a bag stuffed full of toiletries and canned/packaged food.

Has anyone ever done this?

What are your thoughts?

[cboyer]

Nothing is more practical than money........I try to give a little cash if I can, esp if its a woman.......I think if it were me I would want $ not things.....I don't know, it seems like a genuine gesture but I'm not sure how it would be received. JMHO

[LITSA]

SMILES and I would go to the other side of this.

To me to just give money wouldn't feel right to me because instead of it going toward food and necessities I can see it going toward cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. Not saying that all people on the side of the road have these problems, but that would be what would come to mind.

I would rather refer them to a charity that helps......before moving I did this many times by telling them my church could help them. I also did not work in the best of neighborhoods before and when approached many times I would just tell them our store policy was not to donate on the premises. The managers ran off many who were a bit problematic. I honestly worried about my safety as well as the customers' safety.

Blessings and Hugs, "Angel"

[cboyer]

see and I don't care what they spend the money on.......it is what it is....

[BarbaraH]

I think if you can not afford to give money, a SMALL bag of pers. care items would be a blessing. What $ they get will prob. go to food and may not have anything else.
I am in S.Fla, but when it was cold here I drove to the area where they stand lloking for day wk. and gave sweatshirts ect. to the ones that were in sh. sleeves and freezing. One man evan asked me for socks and if I had ANY shoes as his feet were infected. Went home and grabbed a old pair of sneakers and socks and med. for him.These people sp. little english but were saying God Bless you to me and were SO glad to rec.
BUT some of the guys on corners do this lk. a bus. so be careful.
I see so many new people out there now, wish I could do more,on S.S. so little $

[vagabond2]

I used to give money until 10 years ago when I read about a Wall Street businessman who would work in NY in the summer and go to FL for the winter as a panhandler He said he actually made as much "because foolish people gave money" I have never forgotten that and as a result refuse to give money to someone out on the street. I will however buy them a meal, bring hot cocoa or the likes.

[pkwg]

I won't donate to the street people. So often I wonder how they always come up with the magic markers to make their signs. I've seen them get food and then just set it off to the side. They are wanting money, and some make good money. Safety is also something to consider. With the current economy, people are becoming more brazen and it's just not safe to randomly roll down a car window for a stranger, no matter how needy they may appear.

If we donate to the shelters, we know our food has been purchased at a good price and we can do so much more. I shop for people I know that are having a rough time. I also know that $20 of my grocery shopping will buy them so much more than simply giving them $20 to shop with.

[tdrshopping]

I won't donate cash to street people/panhandlers. attended private college with many who covered tuition by panhandling. I don't hesitate to buy juice or a sandwich if a person asking for money is hungry.

[CherryPicker]

My feelings are very similar to LITSA...and if I may add, that safety is a MAJOR factor to consider as well....there have been circumstances where people did this as a motive for robbery...and to hi-jack a car.

On the other hand....in my area...the local services are all intertwined to where they help each other, and are a great referral system for those who need other services. They accept all of my donations, and many of my donations do in fact help the homeless, as well as domestic violence shelters, and the local food bank. No one is ever turned away....yet accountability is of the highest standards.

Obviously....the best part is that the people who need it the most are the ones who directly benefit, and that is the most rewarding part....the 2nd best part is that I find that I can easily afford free with coupon.

[LovinMyCoupons]

I have a hard time TOO with donating money. For the same reasons as the above. I especially have a hard time when the "person" asking for money has their children on display w/them. I can only imagine the emotional/mental scars these kids are going to have.

I, however, do NOT have a problem giving that mom/dad who is asking, a LOAF of bread or some other staple I just bought. I will be putting together some of the FREE: Toilet P, T. Brushes & Tooth P. to give these families as well.

If they are "fake" needy people, at least I got it FREE.