How do you handle beggars?

[deputydog530]

I just noticed on the bottom of your post that you are about to have that baby. I pray you have an easy healthy birth. :smile

[matie-k]

I just noticed on the bottom of your post that you are about to have that baby. I pray you have an easy healthy birth. :smile

Well I certainly do appreciate that prayer!!! I'm quite apprehensive and nervous about the upcoming birth.

[Ron]

Katie, your husband dealt with the situation exactly as he should have. Giving someone you don't know money is not a good idea - yes, we need to concern ourselves with what the money is being used for, otherwise we are not wise stewards.

If the guy gets 1/2 a buck or so from every person he runs into, and does that all day, he's got a lot of money to go blow on drugs or alcohol. If it is a legitimate need (for food or something else), then the person would be grateful even when you go out of your way to buy it. If the person says he wants it for coffee or a burger and weirds out when you offer to buy the burger yourself, then they are just showing that was the excuse they gave to fleece you of your money - and that they have no intent of buying a burger with the money you give them.

That reminds me of the time some beggar asked me for money to buy food with. I told him i'd take him to the restaurant across the street and buy him a sandwich and he asked if he could just have money instead. I'm thinking he wanted drug or alcohol money since he would take the sandwich if he was really hungry. :roll

[deputydog530]

I bet we all have some stories. I was helping this guy one day while on patrol, telling me he had nothing, his shoes were shot, went home and got him a pair of mine. We were getting him set up in a room for the night. As he continued to say how he had nothing $40.00 fell out of his pocket. Told him to get packing before I bucketed him for Theft by deception. Went on his way to the next town. Im still glad we helped him though. :smile

[John81]

For the truly needy in this country there are a plethora of agencies and groups that will give them all the help they need. Those who choose to bum for a living are not truly needy. As so many have noted, they want cash only, they are not interested in someone buying them a meal, which a truly needy person would be very appreciative to receive.

They showed some "professional" pan handlers in LA on the news who had found the mother lode. The area the pan handled was near an affluent area and these bums were getting over a thousand, yes a thousand dollars a day in hand outs! That's VERY good money, even in LA!!

I live in a small, very rural town so we don't have these issues. Once every few years one of these sorts that's travelling between cities might end up here. As soon as he's noticed the police offer him a meal and then they give him a ride out of town in whichever direction they wish to go.

[JerryNumbers]

On one of our local TV stations a few years back they showed a beggar and his sign. It stated this in larger letters.

I want lie to you, I need beer money.

According to the news people eh was collecting quite a bit of money from those passing by. They interview him, he said most everyone who gave him money thanked him for being honest about it. he said his mother always taught him to be honest. :cool

[John81]

On one of our local TV stations a few years back they showed a beggar and his sign. It stated this in larger letters.

I want lie to you, I need beer money.

According to the news people eh was collecting quite a bit of money from those passing by. They interview him, he said most everyone who gave him money thanked him for being honest about it. he said his mother always taught him to be honest. :cool

One thing is certain, and that is sinners love sinners! Alcohol loving sinners would get a thrill out of helping a fellow alcohol sinner buy some drinks.

[Anon]

Being at a church we get those...my husband will occasionally give a little bit of money only because sometimes he feels he should but usually not, or he will offer to get what the person is asking for. There's a really smart one around here who goes around asking for a specific kind of allergenic baby formula that he knows nobody is going to have sitting around (if you offer him another brand, he wont' take it) because then he figures he's so "honest" you'll give him the $15 it costs to buy the "allergenic formula". Then when you just say "sorry" he will ask if he can go to the church and pray. They are really convincing. Unfortunately these days you have to learn not to let your heart get in the way of your common sense.

We have a food cupboard we offer to those who are hungry, and if someone wants a light bill paid or groceries we ask them to come to a church service first, and then we will talk about it afterwards. They rarely do that! I think we paid one light bill of a guy who actually came to the church service before letting us know he had a need...and we wrote the check right to the light company....and then I did find a family on Craigslist who seemed to genuinely need food...I felt God wanted us to bring them food for some reason, so we did. But anyway...yeah...most people who come right out and ask are very professional beggars, and know how to pull your heart strings and get what they want.

[tired]

A new christian couple at our church had their home flooded out and everything destroyed. We have a pantry but we had a food shower for them. Some men in the church went over and cleaned up the place and they got furniture from some people in the church. I thought that was so great. That this new christian couple was helped so much made me realize that there are still some bible preaching churches helping those in need.

[Anon]

We have definitely done alot for several couples within our church who have been in need.