Do you give money to beggars? - Page 2

[DashsMama]

Yes, I give money to people begging on the streets. I also will buy these same people food if I see them outside a grocery store or the restaurant I am eating in. I also donate to our local food bank.

I am in no way rich, but I live a very comfortable life and am blessed in many ways. I am happy to share a little of that blessing with others who may not be as fortunate as I am.

[hotmamacita]

my thoughts on giving

give freely and from the heart...

help those in need...

do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing...

if someone is hungry, feed him....

do it quietly without a big production....

give cheerfully and with friendship...

love your neighbor as yourself!!!!

[OkiMom]

I honestly don't feel comfortable giving money to beggars. Ill give them food or offer to buy them food but I don't open my purse and take money out. I had a friend that did that and ended up mugged and pretty badly beaten when the person attacked her to take her wallet.

[Newbian Mama]

Originally Posted by hotmamacita

give freely and from the heart...

help those in need...

do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing...

if someone is hungry, feed him....

do it quietly without a big production....

give cheerfully and with friendship...

love your neighbor as yourself!!!!

I really like this and it sums up exactly how I choose to be charitable. I have offered food and only one person has ever refused. I have given away my umbrella, gloves, sweaters, whatever. And I give money too. The way I see it, my charity is a gift and I can't dictate what people do with that gift. I do my part and leave the rest up to the Universe.

When I don't have cash on me, I send thoughts of peace and love and I say a quick affirmative prayer for them.

[kimiij]

Sometimes. It depends on the situation.

If I do, I usually try not to open up my bag right in front of them...I will be a few steps behind or in front, and discreetly take out some coins or a few dollars and then walk back to them with my bag closed to give them what I've taken out.

Always during the day as well.

[NicaG]

When we lived in NYC, we used to give money to a few "regulars" at the end of our block. They were there every day, and you could stop and talk to them, and they were just part of the neighborhood. Dh volunteered overnights at our church's homeless shelter, and we both volunteered with a mobile soup kitchen. But we didn't really give money to other homeless/begging people. You could give away money all day. Who do you say yes to? Who do you say no to? In NYC especially, there are lots and lots of places to get a hot meal and a place to sleep if you are in need, and there are lots of outreach workers telling people about those opportunities, so I felt ok with saying no and doing my part in other ways.

[lilyka]

I think that is really cool that the people you gave money to were "regulars" the fact that you recognized them and took care of them regularly was probably a far greater richness than the money you were handing them.

[Snugglebugmom]

Originally Posted by artgoddess

Yes, and I have no issue with how a person in need chooses to spend any spare change I may give to them. It's a gift with no strings attached.

This is exactly how I feel.

[Sailor]

I'm not religious, so maybe what I do is irrelevant to the question. But, I pretty much give money to anyone who asks for it. I mean, in an obvious "need" situation not like my niece asking me for cash to buy more make up.

I don't really care how people spend the money. I lived in NYC. I figure, if you're homeless in winter, in NYC ... if you want to spend the money I give you on vodka or drugs or whatever - I'm not going to judge. If I were homeless in winter, in NYC, I might spend it on vodka and drugs too! No judgments here.

I also give to charities. But, I actually think giving someone the freedom to choose what they want to buy - regardless of what it is - is a good thing.

[skreader]

I mainly give to organized charities. For street beggars, I will give $ to amputees or horrendously crippled people, or the very elderly.

I don't give to small kids begging or if they are "selling" things in a way that leads me to suspect they are working for a Fagin-like character.

I don't count buskers as beggars and give to them if I like their music or their performances.

[indigolilybear]

I used to have a hard time with this. I used to not.

My new MO is to have a few dollar bills in my car. (We usually only see people asking at freeway on/offramps) And I give it. Even though I know probably 9 times out of ten, it's going for drugs or alcohol.

My new thing (and I can see it being complicated by some of the above situations) is to give/do when asked as a rule.

I do it because I do not need to ask for money nor want to. I do it because after I do I feel more open than closed off after I do. I do it as a way of saying thanks for all that I do have and thanks that a dollar or two in my life does not matter one way or the other, though money is very tight in our fam too. I basically do it to feel a part of, rather than judgemental and separate.