Community Chat

[haddon9]

@Kachina624 I have also seen requests for many things on NextDoor in my area.  Some of these people keep coming back asking for more & more.   Sometimes they are called out on it then neighbors start arguing ....some saying it's a scam and others wanting to help.

Most of the time these people are directed to organizations who can help.  It's really hard to know what is real and what is a scam.

[Kachina624]

@haddon9.  The number of people willing to help is amazing but the down and out often take full advantage of it.

[shoptilyadropagain]

I think you'll be fine.

I had a very similar situation several weeks ago. I received a text from my pastor saying she was in meetings all evening and she was trying to help out two women with cancer and wanted me to get some gift cards with the promise she would pay me back Sunday.  Even though the text sounded like how she would talk and phrase things, I immediately got suspicious but I engaged in conversation thru text a couple of times and it looked and smelled more like a scam.  I then noticed that the number wasn't my pastor's.  I then texted my pastor on her actual phone number just to make sure.  She replied back that no it was indeed a scam and she's actually at a wedding rehearsal.  In the meantime, I had received additional texts from the scammers asking me to scratch off the back and take a picture of them and send it.  I just laughed to myself when I texted back....."NICE TRY SCAMMERS" and then immediately blocked the number.
 
Apparently a lot of people from our church received this same text and, unfortunately, one person did go purchase the cards and sent the pictures.

[Hoovermom]

NextDoor is filled with the same type of requests as mentioned above.  They list agencies that are helping out people in need but they want it right now, over the internet.  I finally left that platform because it became a place for donations which I don't have any problem with.  BUT I want to know where my money is actually going instead of to unknowns online.

[shoekitty]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

@haddon9.  The number of people willing to help is amazing but the down and out often take full advantage of it.

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@Kachina624   I had a food program for years.  I worked with Council of Churches in our town. . Believe me, it isn't the always the down and out , or the truely needy that ask....or take advantage, or scam. . It's usually those with other problems, and have other problems like drugs, alcohol, or want ciggarettes or have spent their check on drugs, and need rent. .they would sell cards they hassle for quick cash. If they are hungry they can receive food, if they need meds or copay, we usually went with them to pick up, or got it ourselves and delivered the drugs.  .  I can't tell you the people who go  hungry  rather than ask. Or those that find themselves asking, and truely mortified to find themselves in that position. It is a humbling experience to ask .

if there is a Catholic Church in their area, they always help.  The Catholic Church always has Thanksgiving/christmas baskets, turkeys and all. They truely give.  I am not Catholic, but no church serves the needy better IMO in working with poor and indigent. They don't help single men often. But women, children and families.  They have really good screening, and info on those that receive.  The work they do to the underserved is amazing 

[Kachina624]

@shoekitty.  I worked closely with Catholic Charities years ago when doing recruitment for the Federal Job Corps program.  We had hoards of unattached Vietnamese teens who had no homes or resources.  They were absolutely fantastic helping getting them settled until we could get them in training.