No I do not give anyone asking for money on the street a buck or two.. In all honesty these "bums" need to stop feeling sorry for themselves and do something to change their situation, for example get a job and get some help for their drinking problems, there are programs out there. And it is hard to figure out which ones out there actually need the help and which ones are only out there getting hand outs..

 I never give money to people on the street, whether it's someone holding a handmade sign by a stoplight or it's someone standing outside the store with a coffee can and an "official" sign.  Not only does it not really help people to just hand them money (whether they're using it "right" or not), but it also keeps that money away from places that need it to truly help people by offering shelter, food, job training, counseling, etc.

I give food to those who are hungry, or I point them to a place where they can get the help that they need.  There are great places that will help people much better than I could with just cash.  I support those places and help people get there.

 Sorry Dude

No doh. I've given sandwichs, jug of ice tea and had a most wonderful responce. I've taken down and outers to a dinner and got some looks from other patrations.

But, I will not help them get loaded. One has to have a meal to work but not a drink. Drinking is ALWAYS a choice. Drunks don't need help , drunks need a change of heart. Perhaps I help them continue by giving a sandwich,and perhaps I gave them something to eat as much for me as for them. But I can not feel good about buying a drunk a drink I can feel good about buying them a sandwich.

By the way , I don't always give em something to eat, sometimes I'm in a bad mood or pressed for time , or dont have enough money myself. In these cases , I walk on.

 Ya I don't have a problem with giving a bum the change in my pocket or even a dollar or two from time to time. Homelessness and Alcoholism is a son of a bitch and I think most also suffer from some type of mental illness. Most will probably die on the streets, some of them from Alcohol withdraw. Its sad that the united states sends billions of our money to aid suffering people in other countries and basically turn it's back on the suffering in this country. Giving or buying food for the homeless is a great thing to do.

Many panhandlers are just supplementing their income and unless they give me some quality street performance - and fresh takes on the "my baby's in the car and I need gas" gag are getting hard to find - I don't give them anything.

But the real down-and-outers, the alcoholics, addicts, and mentally ill, aren't going to turn their lives around because someone refused to give them money, or even if everyone refused to give them money.  They live horrible lives and they die young and often violently.  And while there are programs out there, there aren't enough of them, and in many cases, the conditions for accepting them (separation from their 'spouses', for instance, in the case of shelter acceptance) are unacceptable. 

I don't kid myself into thinking that my buck or two is going to make a big difference in their lives, but then neither is the buck or two I leave behind for the waitress at Kelceys.  Its just a friendly thing to do, that's all, kind of like giving them a sandwich or a meal, I suppose.

Anyhow, here's 4 pages of fine comic art on the issue.  You might recognize yourself, or someone you know in it somewhere.

http://www.reason.com/news/...

 When I was about 7 I remember leaving an amusement park with my family. There was a bum on the street and he asked my father if he could spare a dollar. My father snubbed his nose at him and walked on. I remember that so vividly, staring at that man, wondering where his children were, where were the people that loved him? Wondering what wrong turns he had taken to get where he was, wondering why my father didn;t help him when he could.

My heart goes out to homeless people when I see them, whether they are begging or just sitting somewhere, I can't help but wonder why they are where they are. I am much more inclined to give something to the person who is just sitting idly by on a bench or beside a wall than the person that is openly begging at the gas station. When I can, I try to give then something to eat, something to drink, I'd much rather give them food or maybe cigarettes rather than money that would probably end up being burned in a pipe or used for booze. I also try to be sure I give them a smile, some compassion with my tone and my words, afterall what they say is true, when you give someone a smile, it could be the only sunshine they see all day.

If taking a few minutes out of my day to share a story or a joke or a smile with someone who has lost thier way gives even one of them the slightest glimmer of hope, then it's time well spent.

 i always give, ALWAYS.  As a matter of fact i keep spare change and dollar bills just for that occasion. Some of those guys make alot of money though..I usually give to the ones that are just sitting there, not asking..there are thousands of homeless people in SD

 a buck or two at Kelcy's for a tip?  cheapskate

 Cheapskate?  Is that why Terri glares at me?  Ouch! 

What if I only drank a cup of coffee?  Then a buck is 100%....

BTW, tips are taxed. You're not "donating" to the waitress, you're providing her taxable income. And if you skimp, she still gets taxed on what you should have given her.

Do I give money to panhandlers? Actually no, since I very rarely run into them. Guess I don't get out much.

 Hi Jewels, nice to see you on the site again! It's been a while.

...Well, I give money when I can, and I also will buy food or whatever I can, if they are outside a 7-Eleven. I try not to make judgements.  Personally, I appreciate the honestly and sometimes natural comedic nature of the signholders. At least they are honest, and i've seen som pretty creative messages on those signs.

There is a bible quote that comes to mind whenever I see these poor guys, something about "What you do for the least of your brothers, you do for HIM."

 I usually don't give money, because I very seldom have any on me.  I have, however, given my 'take out' food that I've just picked up and I remember once a friend and I were just getting off the freeway in Bakersfield (it was evening, and cold out) and we could see a person laying near the exit.  We stopped to see if they were hurt (he wasn't)...my friend gave him a coat and I gave him the hot coffee I had just bought.

I donate monthly to the Bakersfield Rescue Mission.  They truly help those people who are down and out and try to work with them.  I'm sure they make better use of any money that is given.

YES, the BRM is a GREAT place!  They give so much true help to people, from sheltering them, to feeding them, to giving them job training.  I really encourage you all to give what you can to them.  They need plenty of things, not the least of which is your TIME.  Take your family to serve dinner there, help paint a couple of rooms, etc.  Just call them and tell them you want to volunteer.  THey appreciate everything they are given and are excited that it gives them the ability to help MORE people.  The people there have great hearts. 

wow... what's that old Indian ditty about walking a mile in another man's moccasins? A couple of these responses are pretty harsh. I'm reminded of that song "That's Just The Way It Is" from many years ago by Bruce Hornsby. Granted, there are "bums" among the truly needy out there who don't want to better themselves, but to lump them all together isn't right or fair. To get a job, gotta have an address, something homeless people obviously don't have. Shelters are being shut down left and right - what do they do then? What about the mothers? If they manage to get a job, who's going to watch the kids? There may be programs out there, but there aren't enough. It's just not that easy to "better their situations".

Some of these people are the leftovers from Reagan's era, and my grandchildren will probably be dealing with the ones leftover from Bush's era.

How dehumanizing it must be to have someone walk by you as though you don't even exist...

 I'm with Jewels.....perhaps it's because I too have lived in a large city most of my life and have met many homeless people. Whether they are drunks wanting a drink or mentally ill wanting food, it makes no difference..   I give with hopes that someday things will get better for them. Sadly a lot of homeless people won't go to shelters, especially schizophrenics, they seem to feel more comfortable alone and away from other people.

Christine..  I knew what your response would be (smile)