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LiteraryLark
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Default Feb 28, 2019 at 12:28 AM
  #21
I never give beggars money because odds are they'll use it inappropriately (drugs, crime, etc) and I try to ignore them. The most common pestering getting asked to bum a cigarette, I always say no because 1) cigarettes are expensive 2) you never know if it's a sting if they look young, and 3) they'll usually ask for a lighter and if I do give them one I let them keep it because I don't know what kind of germs and diseases they carry when they touch the lighter...which means I need to buy another lighter.

If they seem like genuinely nice people, most commonly I'll give a smile and a wave, and if I'm feeling particularly generous I give food and a copy of Watership Down. I've handed out copies of that book to several homeless people and they've shared it with their friends and told me it was the most meaningful book they've ever read. (When I worked at McDonald's I came to know all the regular homeless, and now it's my kind of mission to collect copies of that book to hand out to those in need.)
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Default Feb 28, 2019 at 02:20 AM
  #22
Hi DazedandConfused254,

If I remember to, I'll actually plan in advance what my approach will be regarding beggars. If I have some spare coins I will bring those to give but if I have nothing to contribute or just don't want to for whatever reason, I just look at them and say, 'no, sorry' and carry on walking - that should be enough. But if one of them wants to give you an explanation as to why they're asking for money, just say, 'sorry I have to go' and keep walking.

Yes, I find the whole thing awkward myself, but I find interactions with all strangers awkward. One beggar approached me though, and I stopped, and he asked me for $10 - petrol for his car. I actually laughed, haha. I don't know why.
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Default Feb 28, 2019 at 04:29 AM
  #23
I volunteer at the women's prison for AA and there are a lot of people pan handling there. I usually keep a dollar store bag of snacks that I hand out when I go in.

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Taylor27
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Default Feb 28, 2019 at 09:34 AM
  #24
I usally try to have a sub way gift card in my purse to give them, i never give out money because you never know.
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Default Feb 28, 2019 at 12:20 PM
  #25
I don't usually give but if I did then I think that I would buy the person food instead of the cash. I struggle financially so it is hard to give. I often wander though if I was homeless I wouldn't like if people ignored me, yet I do it.
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Default Mar 02, 2019 at 08:35 AM
  #26
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Originally Posted by Cheryl27 View Post
I usally try to have a sub way gift card in my purse to give them, i never give out money because you never know.
One of the nice things about giving that type of gift card is that during rough weather it gives the person a chance to get inside and get warm or cool or just sit down for a bit. Where I live it gets really cold in the winter and that’s a huge thing. I also knew a homeless woman who had heatstroke, so either way you are doing a good thing there.
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Default Mar 02, 2019 at 08:39 AM
  #27
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Originally Posted by Cheryl27 View Post
I usally try to have a sub way gift card in my purse to give them, i never give out money because you never know.
One of the nice things about giving that type of gift card is that during rough weather it gives the person a chance to get inside and get warm or cool or just sit down for a bit. Where I live it gets really cold in the winter and that’s a huge thing. I also knew a homeless woman who had heatstroke, so either way you are doing a good thing there. You might be saving someone’s life.

McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts. All good.
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Default Mar 02, 2019 at 08:43 AM
  #28
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Originally Posted by mugwort2 View Post
Beggers where I live usually gather at the local supermarket and drugstore. If I give its usually food. I make certain it's soft snacks since many such people's teeth are bad. I'm suspicious of the cash being used for drugs.
Good point on the soft food. A lot of poor people don’t have dental insurance.
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Default Mar 20, 2019 at 06:58 AM
  #29
I never give money. I only ever give food if I have it.

I do feel sorry for them, but I'm poor too and I don't have a lot to give away.
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