Do you give to panhandlers?  I never do.?
829391
EXACTLY! When I was younger I used to feel sorry for the people on the streets... I never gave them money but I did drive through a fast food place a couple of times and buy them food and go back and drop it off. Then I seen library park in Phoenix, AZ., and the food lines, etc! The only reason a person is homeless is because they choose to be! We have an overabundance of help programs and some states even have welfare for single men! I live in a city where there are an extreme amount of people getting SSI and Social Security and working (or hustling) under the table for cash and they live much better or at least have many more $$ flow through their hands each month than alot of people. I don't believe that drug addicts and alcoholics should be eligible for these benefits... In addition, I think the funniest thing I have seen is a huge man walking into the grocery store in the middle of the afternoon with his food stamps going to buy groceries.... instead of giving him food stamps and a check... make him get off his duff and work... then we won't have to pay for his stomach staple proceedure either! A friend of mine that is a millionaire went to our local Dr. that has been doing all of those proceedures and he wanted to have it done. He carries private blue cross and the Dr. would not even schedule him for a interview because he didn't have title 19.My friend told the Dr.s office that he has cash...... they said they couldn't take cash because in the case of complications it can run upwards of $100,000.00 again my friend said.... I have cash. They just told him they were sorry they couldn't help him.... however, I personally know 7 people that have had the surgery lately and another couple that are scheduled for it and they are all on welfare! Now if that ain't something! Now don't get me wrong... we do need programs that can assist.... but they need to know when enough is enough and their is a big difference between a hand up and a hand out!
345632
I donate frequently to the homeless shelter, work in the soup kitchen as a volunteer, etc.\nMost homeless shelters will gladly accept clothing, blankets, pillows, toilet paper, dishes, beds, and just about ANYTHING you can think of (toothbrushes, combs, soap).
1116641
I believe in direct donations. \nI think you should be willing to give the clothes off you back to anyone.\nWe are the most privilaged people in the world, no one should suffer for food or shelter in our society. The fact that people do is very sad and unecessary.\nI will only carry enough cash that if someone asks me I will be willing to give half away.\nI collect disability which is not a lot of money. I eat well and so do my kids, we are blessed. We want to share the wealth we have.\nI could care less if I wear gap or crap if I know I am consuming no more then my fair share.\n\n\nI am so self rightgeous, sorry, spank me.\n\nIn answer to you question, organizations, no, people yes.\nI give everyday, pretty much unless I stay home.\nMost of the homeless people in my little town know me by name.
1182216
I was taught if you want something go get it on your own. No one should have to give you anything at all. What is the pride in hand outs?
884049
Ever hear this?\n"There is no such thing as a free lunch"\n\nOccasionally people do give things out free ... do you?\nIt's called "karma" ... you get back what you give out.\n\nGood luck ... try paying for things ... you might be able to get a good deal if you are willing to pay a bit for it.
966
I don't give people cash because I assume they would do exactly what I would do when I get cash, which is stick it in my wallet and use it to pay for mundane things like gas and groceries and stuff... and then before I know it it's gone and it's like I never even got a gift...   Giving them a gift card to a store that you know carries things that they like (i.e. best buy for electronics/media lovers, or Victoria's Secret or The Body Shop for the girly girl in your life) ensures (okay, maybe not ensures, but increases the chances at least) that this person that you care about is going to get a nice little splurge that they might not have given themselves just becase they had a few extra bucks in their wallet.
215842
I do, when I have a chance and I see them, I give them money and bring them to a Homeless Charity House. I wish I could do more than that! :(
911513
Well, I have seen a few things in my life that made me sit back and take notice.  Some little, some big.  But this one was really touching in that the person giving to others worked 2 jobs to support his family and the two children his widowed brother had left with him.  So he had very little money to spare.\n\nOne day last winter at a freeway exit there was a homeless person panhandling using a garbage bag as a rain jacket.  The guy in the truck ahead of me stopped, got out and pulled a new (in it's package) plastic raincoat and hooded sweatshirt from his cab and gave them to the guy.  I happened to bump into the guy in the truck a few days later and asked him about it.  His older brother had lived on the streets and died in the rain of pneumonia.  (He had given up his kids to his brother shortly before ending up homeless)  So he made a point of always carrying an extra jacket, umbrella, raincoat and/or blanket with him.
759295
ALWAYS!!!! The way I see it...I got my arms full of goodies and this person has nothing.  I'm blessed to have what i have (which isn't much), what good is it to have it if you can't share it.  I cannot tell you how many times I've given whatever was in my pocket to someone sitting on the side of the street.  DC almost broke me.  There was at least 2-3 ppl on each city block.  It was heartbreaking.\nNow grant it, there may be shammers, alcoholics, druggies, etc out there, but who am i to judge anyone?  Even if they take the few bucks i give them and go grab a beer when I'm outta sight...it still makes me feel better about myself to give.\nI'm a strong believer in Charma too.  There's been many times, I've been down on my luck and there were ppl in my life to help me out.  I remember how humbled I was to have to accept their help but sometimes you have to tuck your pride away to survive.  I share my gratitude of those that helped me by trying to help others.  "what goes around, comes around" is such a true cliche'.\nSome of my "friends" scold me for giving money or food or whatever i have, saying things like "they're faking it" or "they probably got a mansion somewhere", etc...but again, like i said, giving to them makes me feel better as a person, so i do what I feel is right, regardless of what others say or think.\nThat is what i suggest to you....do what you feel is right in your heart.\nmarjenl72
304224
Okay, let me ask you something.  Have you ever gone to feed the homeless yourself?  Have you ever been homeless?\nI have gone on compassionate missions to San Francisco, LA, downtown Tacoma, Portland Oregon, and Seattle to feed the homeless, and to give them blankets.  I can honestly say that many of them are alcoholics and/or drug addicts who don't care to better themselves. \nThe church I attended for several years offered some of them jobs, in exchange for food and shelter.  The homeless that we offered jobs to wanted the food and shelter, but didn't care to work.\nAs for the second part, for two weeks in '99 I chose to spend all my time with the homeless kids in downtown Tacoma.  I squatted with them, "spanged" (begging for spare change), and observed them closely.  What I saw was that they spent their money on drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes instead of getting their clothes cleaned, taking a shower at the YMCA or YWCA, or getting a hotel room.  I saw heroin, crank, and prostitution for said drugs.  I saw overdoses, disease, and degeneration.  I also saw that they were apathetic to change their situation, and that even with the numerous homeless shelters, they chose to stay in abandoned buildings.\nThe fact that there are homeless is a neverending problem, but it's also an abstract idea to those who speak out against it.  They have no idea, they haven't seen it firsthand like I have.  There are government programs to help these people, and they don't take the opportunity.  Therefore, if these people really want to help themselves, they do so, and they don't stay homeless!\nI know this sounds cold-hearted, but I really do feel for the homeless...just not as much as I did before I tried feeding them.  And I have even less sympathy because I saw it as closely as one can.\nEdit:  I commend the people who volunteer to work in soup kitchens, and in food banks.  But just WHAT is the government supposed to do?  Honestly.  Throw some money at the people?  How are we supposed to sort out the ones who want to better themselves from the drug addicts and alcoholics?  There are homeless shelters, food banks, soup kitchens, low-income housing, churches with good people who try to help...\nAnd I'll tell you what.  In those two weeks that I ran with the homeless, I never went hungry.  There were always people giving us money.  I think I made more money in those two weeks than I have at ANY job I've had...and all that without resorting to prostitution.\nAs I said, there are government programs.  They can help themselves.  Throwing money at them will solve nothing, except putting us even further in debt.\nOne more thing, my sister has five kids.  They live in a four bedroom house, and the rent is $850 a month.  Not bad for Washington State.  She and her husband have a monthly income of a little over $1500.  Their electric bill comes every other month and is usually close to $400 even though they conserve.  One more thing:  My sister has yet to use Welfare.  Those kids are well-fed and cared for.  \nThe unfortunate thing, as I said, is if the government put more money into programs for the impoverished, there are too many who would take advantage of it.  Do you know who would wind up paying the price?  The taxpayers!\nThat there are homeless is tragic.  But there is nothing the government can do.
339875
I used to spend time working with homeless in an urban area.  I met one young guy named David and gave him my phone number saying if he ever needed a meal to give me a call and I'd drop whatever to come down and buy him a meal.  \n\nNot too long after that David called and took me up on the offer.  I took him to a medium priced restaurant and we were given menus.  In the course of time we ordered and I happened to order first.  I ordered something around $10 and thought he would do the same.  He ordered the most expensive steak on the menu.  \n\nThen once we started eating he found the steak wasn't cooked to his preference and he made a big scene about it.  It was a bit annoying.  I don't recall him ever thanking me or calling me again.\n\nIn the end I did learn a lesson and it wasn't what I expected.  In retrospect I was impressed that David took me at my word and actually tested my generosity.  I had put no limits on what I offered him.  I had my own unspoken expectations of how much he should spend but he didn't adhere to those.  \n\nI learned that part of the reason I was generous was that I may be thanked and shown gratitude.  I discovered a little selfishness in my own generosity.  \n\nI guess the attitude I would like to develop is to be kind or generous because it's the pure thing to do, not for what I get in return.
322415
I do help the homeless, my husband and I have started a homeless outreach at our church. We take clothes and food under a bridge once a month(we are a small church and it takes us that long to collect everything) and hand them out. We also hand out blankets when it's cold, shoes razors, tooth brushes, tooth paste and much more.
1142661
When my parents won the Lotto in 1993 They gave most of it to build a Catholic orphanage in India. \n\nSince I was about 10 I have volunteered every weekend at the homeless shelters. \n\nWhen I got married and moved to a different country, my husband and I give regularly to the poor and homeless, sometimes inviting them in to our house for a meal and a nice hot shower while I wash their clothes for them. \n\nEvery Friday at the Mosque my husband donates money to those in need. \n\nand, everytime we pass someone askig for money, we always give what we can.
939939
Yes, I do give food and clothing to the poor and needy...I don't believe in god...but I also don't believe in letting people starve....I do object though to organizations that I have given money to--repeatedly mailing me and asking for more money( I feel as if the money I gave all went to paper and postage); and I feel insulted when they say that they will pray for me. I don't want that.
270470
give but dont ask in return
197454
I can't answer for others, but I can speak for myself.  I have more money than the rest of my family and I have worked very hard for what I have.  Members of my family are always coming to me for money.  I am tired of it.  I have a sister and a other family members that do not work and look at me like a bank.  I do not mind giving a hand up, but I am sick of giving hand outs.  I now refuse to help those that refuse to help themselves.  However, that doesn't mean I don't help others.  Two weeks ago I paid for an eye exam and a pair of glasses for a woman I didn't know.  I met her in the doctors office and she was crying, they wouldn't accept medicaid as payment.  I talked to her and heard her story.  I then told the lady I would pay her bill and I did.  It cost a few hundred dollars, but I felt it was the right thing to do.
997350
I dont give money, i give food, i always carry food with me to give to the needy. its a really nice thing, or if you have restaraunt leftovers, they love those too!\nplus you know that they are not using it for drugs or alcohol, and that they will gain some nourishment from it.