Not positive

dex · ‎03-09-2010

i don't know what is going on but lately I can't go anywhere in my town without someone asking me for money.They need money for gas,food,bus fare and even medications for sick children who are not with them.The stores are also collecting for a number of causes.I have donated to a regular group of charities and also to a few of the people In the parking lots but I have gotten to the point where I have had enough.A lady got out of a nice vehicle at the bank and chased after me to see if I had any cigarettes.i think I am targeted more than others because I always make eye contact and smile at people but it seems everyone needs something these days.

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

@dex It could be that your friendly demeanor does make you a target. Why not try to avoid eye contact and walk straight with purpose for a few days and see if you are treated the same way?

Lilysmom · ‎03-09-2010

It seems to be a widespread issue. We had one shopping district that was especially bad. The merchants discouraged giving directly to the panhandlers for awhile by setting up in store donation boxes where you could give. Didn't work well. I stopped going there. The odd time I do, I don't contribute. There is a strong consensus that the contributions go for alcohol and/or drug use. LM

Gram W · ‎01-22-2013

I have my chosen organizations. St Jude, Shriners, SPCA and occasional couple of others. I just completed my 3 yr on our cancer relay team. Next month we start planning for our 2017 events. I feel these organizations use my money wisely. The bad side is that evidently I have been put on a mailing list and I daily get multiple requests for more money. I have 4 calendars for 2017 and many occasional cards. These I package up and donate along with my magazines less than 3 months old. It appears they get money for these items. I am retired and have some mobility issues but I am totally able and willing to be responsible for myself. I live in a small town with 2 colleges. We have help wanted signs all over year round and have had for years. You will see many panhandlers at intersections coming out of numerous shopping strips. Signs usually say they are homeless and hungry. Every once in a while someone's house burns down but it was not on our news. A nicely dressed young man who is seen regularly says he is homeless and hungry. For a brief time his sign said he had gotten a job at MacDonald's and needed money for new clothes. Now he is there with his homeless sign. I could give you a long list of free thinks available in tis community. Many do not require proof of need. We still have old hippies protesting on our street corners and occasionally standing in the main streets. A friend took the young man a job application. Guess he didn't get the job as he is still there.

LTT1 · ‎03-09-2010

@dex @Gram W @Lilysmom @millieshops

I now have developed a "second sense" about people on the outside and how to non-verbally let them know I am aware of their presence ... for safety sake.

It is important to take in details about your suttoundings without encouraging contact.

~Have a Kind Heart, Fierce Mind, Brave Spirit~

sweetee2 · ‎06-21-2015

Where I live they are so dumb they all using the same line. We had a man with his son standing by our car when we came out from Walmart grocery shopping. "We're from Price and we just need gas money to get home." I was so mad I told the man "do you have any idea how many times I have heard that line?" Then I really got mad I said you should be a shamed of youself doing this in front of your Son! He just walk off. I can't believe he would use his son like that.

dex · ‎03-09-2010

It just makes me wonder how so many people can't make do with what they have.I grew up without much but my mom was resourceful ,single parent of two small children.My dad took off and left her with nothing but the kids...She showed him in the end though as she got a job and raised us well on very limited funds.We did get some help when people donated old clothing and my mom remade it into things for us.We also got gently used bikes from coworkers for Christmas.We loved those bikes and never felt that they should have been new.my mom made our breakfast of oatmeal every morning before school and packed our peanut butter on homemade bread sandwich for lunch.We had pressure cooker diner nearly every night because it was the fastest way to cook in those days.I think having no money was a great motivator for me to want to work hard and have an easier way of life than my mother.I also know how to stretch a dollar because I learned from the best.

Snowpuppy · ‎03-09-2010

Nothing direct but even up here panhandling is tolerated.

Guys stand on the corner, usually outside a sportsbar on early Friday evenings with a "unemployed family man"sign. You can usually spot what they drive, they never park far away.

Must pay, they're out there. If it didn't, they'd stop.