Ironmike4x4

There is a man that stands in front of the shop at a busy intersection holding a sign that says "will work for food." I realize times are tough and am in the process of helping a family member and my wife's mother financially. I normally bring a sandwich to eat at work, but today my shop manager and I went out for lunch, leaving me with an uneaten sandwich. He then brought up a good point about maybe having the man to clean up the shop for us while we pitch in and buy him a nice lunch and dinner. We brought this up to the Sales/store manager and he says no. Mainly because of insurance regulations and not knowing if the man would steal our tools or anything. That's fine, no harm in asking the big boss anyways... We bring up our idea to one of the salesmen and he says he saw the same man earlier going up the road with 2 cases of beer. Now gotta keep in mind this same salesmen is known not to tell the truth about things. He also told us about when he used to live in New York city that he would often see "bums" beg for money and later see them in nice clothes and nice attires. My question is what do you guys think? I didn't give him my sandwich as I'm not fond of talking to new people or strangers. Even if we don't allow him to work for us wouldn't it be okay to just give him a few snack items? It's not like we are giving him money to buy more alcohol or anything.

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Rickadootrd

Nice of you to think so genorously... I see alot of those destitute people lately...times are tough..

BajaRunner

Nothing wrong with giving the guy a sandwich. I often feel too sad for the homeless, unfortunately, like with all other things there are always a few rotten apples that ruin it for the rest of 'em.

Just wondering, are there not that many homeless around there or what? I see like 10 a day down here

Santa Cruz was even worse...it was like a homeless commune underneath the bridge. No like seriously...they were everywheres. You couldn't walk down the street for a block without being asked for spare change. Felt like that southpark episode,

I had a homeless friend who'd always walk behind the restaurant I worked at and would "bum" a smoke from me. He'd always talk to me about some crazy story that had happened to him. One day he told me that I should never give homeless people money cause they are a lot richer than you think. "Yeah man, one day I made like $500". I dont know if he was all there in the head or not. Last time I saw him he was asking for his G-string. I started laughing..."what man!!??" ...you wear a G-string?! Hes like..."no bro...my g-string off my guitar...its gone man!".

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Ironmike4x4

Not too many in my area that I've noticed in my town. I know of a guy in my hometown that lives in a trailer, no lights, no hot water, no vehicle, or any other family members. He used to come into the grocery store where I used to work. He'd always buy dog food and smelled horrible. I've taken him home a few times (a friend of mine knows him well and said he was harmless). He was always very thankful and even offered to odd jobs around the house if I needed him. He is actually pretty cool, he told me many stories of when he was in the marines and from Desert Storm and Iraqi Shield. I'd also "give him my leftovers" when I was eating lunch at the store when actually I knew what time and days he would come in and buy him a separate plate.

As far as seeing homeless people. I've never been exposed to it. I live in a very small country town and never really saw it. My first experience seeing them was when my wife was going out of town and I dropped her off at a bus station in Greenville SC. The station workers would have to run them out of their bathrooms and showers and even the benches of the station itself. There had to at least been 20 of them. I tried to ask one of the workers about them (homeless people) and got a snubbish response out of him. I won't go into an even longer story about it but I had an interesting run-in with one of the bums when I was trying to leave the station. Nearly killed the guy.

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okie81

That's was a great idea, everyone would have benefited: you get a clean shop and he gets what he wants. Too bad the managerial bureaucracy wouldn't have it.

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habanero

Having an alcoholic friend who was 'voluntarily' homeless for many years (work and living with family got in the way of drinking, as did rent) and would have been very appreciative for food, a warm place without having to sleep with someone to get it, a cigarette someone else hadn't already smoked, etc etc, I say good for you.

Having been at a local restaurant and overhearing the couple at the next table who were well known for their street corner begging talk about their disappointing daily take which was more than I make in a week and about when they were heading back to Florida because of summer's end-
I still say good for you.

Do be careful though. As is the case for another homeless guy not too far from here, to approach him can be dangerous. Schizophrenic and well-known by the local police, my sister was advised to steer well clear of him.

Food is something useful for those who don't have the money for it and can't be used for something they really shouldn't have, like alcohol in my friend's case. She'd have chosen the booze over the food, given the choice, though it was the food she was desperate for.

So many different people and so many reasons.

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waskillywabbit

Sorry but I have yet to find anyone holding one of those signs that would do any "work" period. There are PLENTY of places that can help them if they truly need help. Most either don't want the work or would rather just free load.

There is only one thing I will give away free to a stranger needing a handout...a work ethic.

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VSU_4runnin

theres no harm in giving a sammich. just pray he is not one of "those guys". when i used to work in downtown i would see many people with signs like that, so i began packing pb&j sandwiches and bottles of water occasionally. many times they were grateful, but unfortunately a good many times i would get cussed out and have it thrown back at me.

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jmoore9982

Not saying that all of them are this way, but am a plant manager and have tried to offer some of those folks a job and have never had a taker. I live in Denver and the local paper ran an article about a year ago in which they interviewed several of the will work for food guys and a number of them were pulling down 45k plus a year. All cash and one would presume tax free.

Matt90V6SR5

Thats sad when bums decieve to get money from unsuspecting people.They play the part of victim only to victimize the very people that want to help them.Having said that,ten years ago the wife and I (ex now)prepared a bunch of food and drink and gave it to a half dozen homeless people.It was a blazing hot summer and they was all extremely grateful.Since then I have helped a few,mostly by providing food not money.

Matt90V6SR5

Remember Liar,Liar when Jim Carey is walking down the sidewalk to work and the bum ask him for change.Jim says no,the bum says why not?Jim says : because I believe you will buy booze with it!! I just wanna get from my car to my office without being confronted by the decay of society! plus Im cheap! The bum yells at him: jerkoff ! Jim says : I know! as hes running away.

Ironmike4x4

I mentioned this on my Facebook wall and someone I know posted this: "I know exactly how you feel. I saw a guy with a sign near walmart on White Horse Road. It was my birthday and I decided I was going to spend the day taking food to homeless people as soon as I saw his sign. I went to Mcdonald's and bought a bunch of different breakfast foods. I went back to give it to him and he was gone. So I continued ... See More through Greenville to give it to someone else. That night, the same homeless guy was on the news for murdering someone behind walmart. I've been extremely careful ever since, but I feel horrible."

This woman is known to be a charitable giver, after her post it almost changes my outlook on this.

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toyotaman11

this.^
annnnd this.
when i was stationed in san diego years ago, i had a bum walkup to me and bum a smoke off me. i handed him my pack thinking he'd take one out and give it back, WRONG !!! he started to walk away with the whole pack ! i said " HEY !!! thats mine " he was like oh, sorry .

thats why i don't give food or change to 'em. they'd sooner steal your smokes than get a job and buy their own.

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fustercluck

A few years ago while living in Phoenix I saw a homeless man so intoxicated that he was un able to move into the shade from the 100+ heat. He sat on the curb, sweating and slumped, pitiful and defeated. His bald head was just blistering in the sun. At first, my libertarian instict compelled me to ignore him. After all, in a meritocracy, we sink or swim of our own volition.

As I walked by, my humanitarian aspect emerged. I went into the store and bought him a six pack of ice cold bottled water, a mini bag of ice, and a little styrofoam cooler. I took it out to him and roused him from a stupor. We moved to an area likely to have shade for the rest of the day and filled his new cooler with ice and water bottles. He drank deeply from the first. I gave him my ball cap and went on my way, calling for some civil services for him from my cell.

I don't know what ever happened to him. I don't know if he used good stewardship over the conduct and consequences of his life. Ultimately, that is not my concern. As a human being with empathy and compassion even in nascency, it's only my obligation to do the good deed.

Funny, other than the anonymous phone call, I've never mentioned this or other acts to anyone else until now.

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VSU_4runnin

and that fuster makes you an altruist. one may presume better than those who donate thousands to help the homeless for personal gain, people like you, me, and others are the ones truly helping others.

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fustercluck

Thanks VSU. Though I don't do good for praise, it's nice to hear.

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yotaluver

I'm a Firefighter EMT and I see the bums and homeless all the time. It is very sad because most of them are drunk 24/7, and I mean that, I've picked them up and taken them to the hospital at 10:00 AM TOTALY wasted. With the money they spend on alcohol they could be eating 3 good meals a day and have a place to stay. Most of the bums around here live in what we call "tent city" literally a city of tents in the woods. Some i feel more sorry for then others, Some tell me they want to change the way they live but don't know how, these i try to help and feel sorry for, then there are the ones who just say FU the whole way to the hospital and want no help at all... those i really don't feel sorry for, it's the life they chose. As for giving them stuff... I'll never give them money, i know where it'll go, but a sandwich, some water, or a blanket? sure never hurts to show a little compassion. Also I would never advise going to there tent city or to the bridge they live under... I do but it's not by choice, and we take an extra engine crew for backup when going there and usually wait for police before going in. most, if not all, i feel could change their situation if they wanted to.

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leebee

there-in lies the crux of the whole situation, wanting to change.

lee

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surf4runner

no good deed goes unpunished.

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edwinb4x4

As the saying goes "can't judge a book by its cover" - this makes both sad and hard to help people who are really in need of help. Need to be carefull as some of the these beggars are professional. They do this as a means of their livelihhood. In fact, I remember a news program I think last year where they spied on this guy begging on the streets holding a sign that he was a 'Nam Vet'. They followed him and found out that he lived a couple blocks. He has a house and a car but was profitable to beg instead of actually having a real job. Then there's also the beggars who are alcoholics/addicts and the only way for them to support their addiction is to beg - how do you help these people? As for the ones who really needs help - most of them happilly know where to go for help - but some have nowhere to go but beg. Whose who I don't know, but talking to them gives you an idea who they really are. If you talk to one and gets mad, then something is wrong there but if they start giving you the 'sob story' might be a pro. So in this situation you need to use the mind not the heart for that is what they counting on - tug your heart.

On a lighter note;

As for the help another saying goes like this:

“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you will not have to listen to his incessant whining about how hungry he is.”—Author unknown
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you can sell him fishing equipment.”—Author unknown

“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to use the Net and he won't bother you for weeks.”—Author unknown

“Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Unless he doesn't like sushi—then you also have to teach him to cook.”—Auren Hoffman, Herald Philosopher

“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish, and he will sit in the boat and drink beer all day.”—OldFox

“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to sell fish and he eats steak.”—Author unknown

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edwinb4x4

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Team420

Theres a couple guys that stand on an intersection in portland, always got a sign that says something like "will work for food", or "please help...hungry", or my personal favorite " its cold and I cant afford oil".... problem is... these signs are always written out on the back of beer cases.... And good beer too...wtf??? if your poor and gonna beg for $...at least buy cheap beer... not the $10 a 6 pack stuff...lol
I too have seen these "bums" out on the corner pan-handling 1 day, and in nice clothes driving a decent car the next.... it is easier than working....

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peow130

There is one lady in town that has been out on the streets for over 10 years now.
Apparently, she owns a house, and 2 very nice cars.
She just refuses to use them, and should be in a mental hospital.

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