Panhandlers

[SkyRider]

I noticed in various parts of the city it appears the same panhandlers are at the same venue 24/7 asking for money so they can eat. What is the proper protocol? Are you supposed to give them a dollar every time you walk/drive by them? Are you supposed to go to the nearest MacDonalds and buy a hamburger, fries and coffee to give to them?

 

[peter4025]

Offer them a job. If they are in dire need they'll take it

 

[bazokajoe]

Just keep walking and ignore them.

 

[spankingman]

I was walking by a panhandler a few weeks ago.Was asked for change etc. I looked at her scrawny body as she looked undernourished thought it over then told her Id be back shortly.
I went into the Swiss Chelt and bought her a meal then went back to her. She freaked out screaming I want money.! I would rather buy her food than give her money that could be used to buy drugs. Was I wrong?

 

[destillat]

I was walking by a panhandler a few weeks ago.Was asked for change etc. I looked at her scrawny body as she looked undernourished thought it over then told her Id be back shortly.
I went into the Swiss Chelt and bought her a meal then went back to her. She freaked out screaming I want money.! I would rather buy her food than give her money that could be used to buy drugs. Was I wrong?

Maybe she is vegan.

 

[pablice]

I was walking by a panhandler a few weeks ago.Was asked for change etc. I looked at her scrawny body as she looked undernourished thought it over then told her Id be back shortly.
I went into the Swiss Chelt and bought her a meal then went back to her. She freaked out screaming I want money.! I would rather buy her food than give her money that could be used to buy drugs. Was I wrong?

Nobody likes their power of choice to be taken...especially somebody in her state, no matter how wrong or right they are.

 

[destillat]

Nobody likes their power of choice to be taken...especially somebody in her state, no matter how wrong or right they are.

Agreed.
But if I were living on a side walk, I'd greatly appreciate the chance to have a hot meal... unless of course I was looking to buy my next fix.

 

[bazokajoe]

I was walking by a panhandler a few weeks ago.Was asked for change etc. I looked at her scrawny body as she looked undernourished thought it over then told her Id be back shortly.
I went into the Swiss Chelt and bought her a meal then went back to her. She freaked out screaming I want money.! I would rather buy her food than give her money that could be used to buy drugs. Was I wrong?

See my post above yours.Thats why you just keep walking.

 

[pablice]

All that you said makes sense and I agree it should be like that. However, we do not know whats in her head and by doing this you are just contributing to her demise and disrespecting the being they currently are. They have shelters and stuff that they can get food and stuff. I think the best thing to do is not give them money and try to give money or time or support for shelters or programs to give them the tools they need to help THEMSELVES!

Maybe you can also ask her would you like a soup or sandwich or gloves. See what she wants and see if you can get her. Just tell her you don't have any change but can help her with this other stuff if she wants it.

When I was in university a bunch of peeps would meet in my cabbage town bachelor appartment, we would make sandwiches, buy gloves and socks and stuff and patrol the streets during the coldest months and talk to them ask them if they could use some of the stuff we had. Sometimes they just need somebody to listen to their story.

Agreed.
But if I were living on a side walk, I'd greatly appreciate the chance to have a hot meal... unless of course I was looking to buy my next fix.

 

[Mr. Piggy]

I was walking by a panhandler a few weeks ago.Was asked for change etc. I looked at her scrawny body as she looked undernourished thought it over then told her Id be back shortly.
I went into the Swiss Chelt and bought her a meal then went back to her. She freaked out screaming I want money.! I would rather buy her food than give her money that could be used to buy drugs. Was I wrong?

I would have screamed back at her, If you want money, get a fucking job. Then again I would not have bought any food to take to her.

 

[Celticman]

I was walking by a panhandler a few weeks ago.Was asked for change etc. I looked at her scrawny body as she looked undernourished thought it over then told her Id be back shortly.
I went into the Swiss Chelt and bought her a meal then went back to her. She freaked out screaming I want money.! I would rather buy her food than give her money that could be used to buy drugs. Was I wrong?

An act of charity is never wrong. Good for you for the act of kindness as well as taking the time to get the meal and return. If she rejected it in no way does this diminish your generosity. Initially I thought that you should have asked her, but then realized that she would have asked for the money, which was not what you wanted to do. I suspect that most panhandlers would have accepted the meal.

 

[SkyRider]

I spoke to a friend of a friend who is a social worker and she said that some panhandlers/homeless will not accept food from a stranger because they don't know what might be in it. Not all strangers are nice.

 

[destillat]

I spoke to a friend of a friend who is a social worker and she said that some panhandlers/homeless will not accept food from a stranger because they don't know what might be in it. Not all strangers are nice.

Interesting... I've never looked at it from that perspective before.

 

[nobody123]

I was walking by a panhandler a few weeks ago.Was asked for change etc. I looked at her scrawny body as she looked undernourished thought it over then told her Id be back shortly.
I went into the Swiss Chelt and bought her a meal then went back to her. She freaked out screaming I want money.! I would rather buy her food than give her money that could be used to buy drugs. Was I wrong?

You weren't wrong to want to help a fellow human being out. But you probably should have asked/offered before going through the trouble. And the offer might go down easier if made along the lines of "sorry, I have no money to give, would you like a slice of my pizza/my fries/a coffee/whatever" rather than "I will give you food but not money"

 

[SkyRider]

Interesting... I've never looked at it from that perspective before.

That is because you and I think members of this board are nice people but there are nasty people out there.

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/08/08/cops-investigate-video-of-man-peeing-on-sleeping-homeless-man
(Don't understand why the article had to say the pisser is black.)

BTW: Are there more panhandlers this year than in past years? Or, is it because I just happen to travel in areas where they seem to be numerous, usually in front of LCBO, Beer Store, MacDonalds, subway station, ATM's, etc.?

 

[whitewaterguy]

My acts of impulsive kindness usually kick in once or twice a year, when standing in a grocery check out line, where the person ahead of me is over the limit cash wise for what's on the counter, and are being asked to put a few items back.... I sometimes cover the difference without making a big deal about it Never been rejected, always thanked

 

[K Douglas]

Offer them a job. If they are in dire need they'll take it

Fat chance of that. Most are mentally or physically incapable of holding down a job. Others are just plain lazy and expect the govt/population to look after their needs.

 

[SkyRider]

when standing in a grocery check out line, where the person ahead of me is over the limit cash

I'm surprised to still see some people pay cash at the checkout. I once asked a cashier why and she said, right or wrong, that some people are undocumented and others don't qualify for credit. (Maybe money laundering?)

 

[Hurricane Hank]

I'm surprised to still see some people pay cash at the checkout. I once asked a cashier why and she said, right or wrong, that some people are undocumented and others don't qualify for credit. (Maybe money laundering?)

I always have plenty of cash on me. SPs rarely take interact.

 

[james t kirk]

I was walking by a panhandler a few weeks ago.Was asked for change etc. I looked at her scrawny body as she looked undernourished thought it over then told her Id be back shortly.
I went into the Swiss Chelt and bought her a meal then went back to her. She freaked out screaming I want money.! I would rather buy her food than give her money that could be used to buy drugs. Was I wrong?

No you weren't wrong.

She probably wanted money for drugs or booze and that was more important to her than food.

You were thinking she was down and out on the street and hungry and figured you'd do the right thing and buy her a meal to tide her over. She was looking for money without having to work for it. It could have gone either way, she could have thanked you for the meal, but instead she freaked out.

Good on you for trying. Next time, just offer to buy her a simple affordable meal and if she says Ok, you make a couple of suggestions, if she says she just wants money then say no, that's not the deal and walk away.