Would you give a Meth addict on the sidewalk a snort of Crystal Meth if he needed one?, a herion junkie a fix?, thats not helping these people, I would never do that, its cruel, if it makes you feel better to give people their drug of choice to keep them in their misfortune, then I feel sorry for you, places like Bakersfield Rescue Mission are the answer, and most churches in town also, I have handed out food and houshold goods to many people in town thru my church, we would never hand out drugs. many of these people are leftovers from Carters era, and my kids will probably be dealing with homeless from Clintons era.

There's a difference between a drunk or mentally ill homeless person and a drug addict.   I would never give a drug addict a drug.  Drug addicts aren't the people you find out on the street panhanding, if you do it's RARE.  Drug addicts are too paranoid or afraid of the police to risk being in public...  Drug addicts would rather steal from you.    I think we are talking about two different things here Starbucks.   But, I agree with you, I wouldn't give drugs to anyone either, however ,I have givien drug addicts food. I'm glad to hear your church lends a helping hand as well.

There used to be a guy, who was so out of it, he was laying (lying) on the cement, near the freeway offramp at LAX, he was filthy and so was the blanket over him; he didn't even have the strength to stand up, or was just too stoned, or both.  When he was there every morning, there were two types of people in their cars, waiting for the light to turn:  Those who gave him food and/or money and the other type:  Eyes looking forward, and couldn't get out of the way, fast enough.  Then there are the other sad cases of many a homeless person, with their dog, and probably only best friend; needless to say, from those of us who cared (and there were many), dog biscuits were plentiful/given to the furry friend, who only had a rope around his neck since he was homeless too; am sure he loved his (homeless) person anyway. 

 Gee, who suggested handing out meth?  I never have any on me anyway.

I suppose I have given money to people who then spent it for something that wasn't in their best interests....oh - wait a minute, that was me....and someone gave ME the money....oh well....

It isn't your responsibility how a bum, or anybody else, spends the money you give them.  I don't expect bums to stop buying their pain-reliever of choice, of course.  If I had to sleep outside on the sidewalk, I'd probably want to get molared up too.

 LMFAO Progresso...    I adore you!!!

Years ago, my friend and I used to give money to some "pushy" people who would just walk right up to us, especially right after we came out of a restaurant; clearly, that was not a very smart thing to do, on our part.  Finally, we made the decision not to give money, particularly to the many people, who would brazenly walk right up to you and just ask, outright; they didn't even bother to say "the usual" that  they needed the money for gas and/or for their baby; or that their baby needed diapers/food; of course, "their wife was in the car, taking care of the baby" (all of which you could not see) . . .  Lesson learned when you work close to the L.A. Airport . . .

Then you have the "entrepreneurs" who would come out of nowhere and start cleaning your windshild while you were pumping gas; they were very good at it, and the incentive was definitely there to give them a little money, so you could get the heck out of there, and all the while, promise yourself that you will never go back to that particular "establishment" . . .

 Progresso, this blog is about,"Would you give a buck or two so a drunk could get a drink", thats what I am referring to, to me, its the same as giving a drug addict their drug of choice, I would  not do this, these people need help, not more drugs, I have helped out many unfortunate people with food, clothes, ect, but to give them more drugs is just killing them faster, and I dont want a part of that, maybe you are ok with this, but even sparks admits she would not give out drugs to people asking for them either,  perhaps you should re-think your position on this, I think we should help the homeless, not keep them stoned.

Starbucks, I wish Americans would do more for the homeless, many are Vets, or mentally ill and of course there are also the down and out.  Americans should do more for the people who have served our country so valiantly and for the mentally ill/down and out.   Heck, we respect homeless animals more than we do homeless people.  I personally don't mind giving the homeless a few bucks.  It makes ME feel good and hopefully it makes their day a little better.   As I said before, not all the homeless, especially the mentally ill will go to shelters for help so the few bucks they make off the street is their only option. I respect the way you choose to help the homeless Starbucks.  I believe people have the right to their own opinion, even if it happens to be different than my own, thus I'm fine with your and Progresso's opinion and I don't think either one of you should "re-think your position on this".  To each their own.  For those who wouldn't help at all...  I say what goes around, comes around, but they too are entitled to their own opinion.

 I too give to the homeless and also support NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill). So many people have no empathy for the down and out amongst us. 

I agree with Joty  & Sparks wholeheartedly.

I have a queation. Are the people asking for donations outside of Kmart legite? I always give to them regardless . I asked one man who was outside if he was getting donations or were most people ignoring him. Most were ignoring him of course. They say they are an organization to help the homeless.

Gillfish,  Sure Kmart is very good about letting organizations needing donations use their parking lot e.g. Girl Scouts, Fire Dept., Church groups and the Humane Society. etc. etc.   Kmart also donates to these orgs in one way or another, heck they even donate food to the homeless dogs and cats in Tehachapi...that's why I shop at Kmart.

Starbucks1, does the employer who pays wages to an alcoholic, knowing that the man will spend much of those wages on booze morally equivalent to a person who hands out meth?       

Your insistence that giving a man money which he predictably mis-spends is the same as giving him drugs would seemingly force you to say "yes" to that question.  One might next argue that firing the alcoholic (thus removing his source of revenue to continue his bad habit) would be a moral response to the alcoholic's failings.

My position is that though I am not hiring a begger, but only giving a small charity, the man's use of that money confers no more culpability on me than it does an employer.  I certainly have never advocated keeping anybody stoned, I've only pointed out that getting stoned is an understandable response by those who live under the horrible conditions these people do, and that I don't think we can condition our willingness to help on the good judgement or soberity of those who need it.

From the cartoon I linked earlier...

Sparks, thanks for your kind words.  You made my day!

 the comment on "drug attacks would rather steal from you" is pretty harsh. and untrue. I was never a meth addict( and the comment about having and giving out meth" was funny. but i was once a heroin addict, ( 1/2 years ago i stopped. I was homeless at one time as well, and maybe i did ask for money once or twice, but anyone who had at that time to reach out and help with a sandwich or a couple of bucks for food, or a coat. was so appreciated. It made me smile at humanity in those days. and so do alot of the comments here.  except the statement about heroin attacks stealing. or spending every dollar on their drugs.  i was never one to steal. I did worse but only to myself.  next time don't judge the addict/alcoholic.

peace everyone

susan

Susster,  There I go, generalizing again...  good catch,  When I am wrong, I freely admit it.  I hear what you are saying about the only harm you did was mainly to yourself.  I can relate to that.  Sure, many drug addicts do steal and I still believe that the majority of the homeless are not drug addicts, but my generalization of drug addicts was indeed wrong. 

Go ahead slap me...  I'm feeling kinky today.  (smile)

 yeah, i wish someone would have handed me out free meth back in the day....would have made things much easier :).  I dont really care what they spend it on.  The fact is, is that they have sunk to such a low that they are begging on the street.  Why kick someone when they are down.  If I have some spare change or a dollar i give it...I dont judge them.  I think about "But for the grace of God...go I"

In all honesty I am getting tired of seeing people on the streets asking for money or being approached at gas stations for gas money. I was approached yesterday at a gas station by a lady asking for money for gas and then there was a lady on the freeway with a sign asking for money. I would rather give my spare change to a charity that is helping people than to a stranger on the streets.