Homeless

[kav122]

How do you help the homeless? Do you feel guilty for giving or not giving money to panhandlers? Would you rather give to shelters? Donate to your church because you know exactly what they will do with the money for less fortunate?

[yourbeginnings]

The only charity I donate to is the GoodWill. I have given to pan handlers in the past when I lived in the city, but there are not many pan handlers out in the suburbs.

[Looby]

Homelessness is a big issue where I live and I do feel guilty that I don't do more about it. I give to the foodbank and have purchased food/drink for individuals on occasion. I don't give money often, I'm a sucker for a homeless person with a dog though!

[Lynnae]

I give to a program at church. We provide a hot meal on Sundays, a place to go out of the cold on Saturday afternoons, warm blankets, sleeping bags, hats, & socks.

Unfortunately the newspaper did a big story on some panhandlers here, and the panhandlers were living in a nice hotel and sending their kids to private school, because they got so much money from the people in town. The didn't want to work. And yes, they said that in the interview.

So now I never know whether a panhandler is really homeless or whether it's a scam. So I just give where I know the money will go to help people who are really homeless.

[rstlne]

There aren't many homeless out in the suburbs where I now live. Back when I lived in the city though, I gave at first but then it got to the point where there were homeless on practically every block so I just stopped giving. There were simply too many. Better to support a charity or foodbank.

[KelR1]

I help homeless animals by donating money, food, towels, blankets, etc. to local animal shelters as well as sponsoring people I know who do the annual Humane Society Walk for Animals. I also encourage people who are looking for a pet to adopt if at all possible.

[rachael24]

I try and donate to the local churches around my area. I may start helping out at the soup kitchens to do more. I think everyone should pitch in.

[gt0163c]

I don't feel comfortable donating to people on the side of the road, those that come knocking at my door, etc. If I haven't had time to research the organization, I won't give money.
That said, I donate to a local night shelter through a program at work. We occasionally take the church youth groups down there to serve dinner and/or make sandwiches as well. I also give to my church which supports a couple of ministries to the homeless.

[lucille]

I try to donate to the non-religious non-profits that are trying to directly help. I don't give anything to pan-handlers. It becomes too hard to figure out who is really destitute and who is just a scammer. When I lived in a big city I would get approached all the time by skeezy people wanting to borrow my cell phone, demanding money for breakfast. Many of them were clearly scammers looking for an opportunity to rob you rather than homeless so I just quit even stopping for people asking for things.

[lpkitten]

I remember a time a panhandler asked me for money to buy food as I was going into a 7/11. He said he was really hungry and just wanted to buy a bite to eat. I said no but while I was in the 7/11 I felt really guilty so I bought him a muffin. When I gave it to him on my way out he looked at me in disgust and asked me if I had money. I said no and then he went in to try to return it! So much for wanting food! After that I realized it was probably better to donate directly to organizations that help the homeless as opposed to giving it directly.