Re: Never again

reiki604 · ‎03-09-2010

Many years ago I worked in an inner city healt clinic. the parking area was on the side of the building where there were some homeless living. A few times a week I would bring them sandwiches and cigarettes. They always watched out for me and would even walk me to my car when I left if there were any strangers hanging around. Treat everyone with respect. You are not better than anyone!

'I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed man'.......Unknown

Sunshine Kate · ‎03-10-2010

My local news station frequently states, "Do not give $$ to any beggar on the street". It's against the law.

These people know where to get free food if they're homeless.

Plaid Pants2 · ‎03-14-2015

@kelsey17 wrote:
I don't give to panhandlers.....never have....legitimate organizations are the only ones i dontate to......i don't believe any of the panhandlers....like one poster said ...they spend all day looking for handouts and walk away to a car nicer then myself............................a while back we had a couple panhandlers near our shopping center and i had seen them there a couple times..............when they took a "break" around the corner...i happened to see them .....and they were there on their cellphones and smoking cigarettes......both of which are costly habits that surprised me that people who claim to have no money to survive are in possession of.....Unfortunately....i often think the people who REALLY need the financial help are
the ones who don't apply or ask because of pride or just
not aware of what might be available to them.....

@kelsey17

I wholeheartedly agree with what you said.

A lot of scammers out there, who are all too willing to take advantage of people.

They won't con me with their sob story.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

Maybe he was going to shake your hand. I might have been annoyed but under the circumstances, there was no danger or threat. It's not like he made grab for your handbag. You folded the money and I don't do that. When I worked in town and gave to pandhandlers, they usually had cups or buckets but if not, I didn't fold the money. I smoothed it out and handed it to them to avoid skin on skin contact.

happycat · ‎09-18-2010

@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
There are some homeless that don't want gift cards to Mickey D's, etc.

The want the $.

I would NEVER trust a homeless person.

Never.

You never know what they might do, if you let them get close enough to you.

There are a lot of mentally ill homeless people out there, and those who have had their brains fried by drug use.

Year ago, when my kids were home and my son could drive. He had taken his sister somewhere. On the interstate ramp, closest to our house, was a man standing with a sign that said "hungry", DD insitsted that DS go down to McDonalds and get him a hamburger and coke. DS didn't want to, but miss priss insisted. It was out of thier way, but he did it. They got back there, handed the man the McDonalds bag, and he said, "this is the 4th hamburger I've had to day".....Not in a happy tone.

So, yeah @Plaid Pants2, I think you are right.

It is way beter to give to places that help peole out.

Now, in the town where DD lives now, she has a "special friend" who lives on someones porch, who she does buy Popeye's chicken for on a somewhat regular basis. She says he has never asked her for anything and I dont recall how she got to know this man. It has been going on now for probably a year. He doesn't have a sign, he is mentally ill and needs help.

software · ‎06-08-2016

@CalminHeart wrote:
THANK YOU for helping this man. Please don't stop because he touched you. 99.99999999% just want to say thank you in some way and often, it's a simple touch. They have nothing else to offer but their own touch. My work in a shelter has proven to me that these are people, just like you and me, and they love any slight contact with another human.

If you don't like giving cash, keep a few small gift cards with you to a place for ultra-cheap food and hand those out. I always keep $5 gift cards to Casey's and McDonalds in my car.

The poor and homeless are humans who are at the bottom of the food chain in our country. They and more will fall even lower if things continue. They need our help, not our disdain.

Thanks for your kind words and those are good suggestions.

software · ‎06-08-2016

@chrystaltree wrote:
Maybe he was going to shake your hand. I might have been annoyed but under the circumstances, there was no danger or threat. It's not like he made grab for your handbag. You folded the money and I don't do that. When I worked in town and gave to pandhandlers, they usually had cups or buckets but if not, I didn't fold the money. I smoothed it out and handed it to them to avoid skin on skin contact.

There is no way I could KNOW I was in no danger.

He could have shoved me in a vehicle or knocked me down.

Once he had me by the hand, he was in control, even only for a brief moment.

Plaid Pants2 · ‎03-14-2015

@software wrote:
@chrystaltree wrote:
Maybe he was going to shake your hand. I might have been annoyed but under the circumstances, there was no danger or threat. It's not like he made grab for your handbag. You folded the money and I don't do that. When I worked in town and gave to pandhandlers, they usually had cups or buckets but if not, I didn't fold the money. I smoothed it out and handed it to them to avoid skin on skin contact.
There is no way I could KNOW I was in no danger.
He could have shoved me in a vehicle or knocked me down.
Once he had me by the hand, he was in control, even only for a brief moment.

@software

It's best to never assume that the person is harmless, just because they come across that way.

There are ways of extracting yourself if someone grabs you by the hand.

I have taken many self-defense classes and have learned to use my body as a weapon if need be.

I think every woman should learn basic self-defense.

You never know when you might need it.

I'm glad that you are okay, and are only shaken up.

It could have easily gone south.

henderson · ‎03-18-2010

The original poster said this man was asking for "gas money". So he has a car? Doesn't make any sense to me. I used to help at a women's shelter at our local rescue union. I was taught never to give money. They just want to buy drugs/alcohol.

software · ‎06-08-2016

@henderson wrote:
The original poster said this man was asking for "gas money". So he has a car? Doesn't make any sense to me. I used to help at a women's shelter at our local rescue union. I was taught never to give money. They just want to buy drugs/alcohol.

He was actually standing by his car.

He won't go far either way (drugs or gas) on the $3 I gave him.