Homeless Guy

[Gadget728]

I had to go to Wichita yesterday and pick up my T-105 RE Trojan batteries. The battery store is right next to a Wal Mart. At the edge of the parking lot was a scruffy, bearded gent holding a cardboard sign that said "Homeless & Hungry. I pulled over and dug out my wallet only to see a single lonely one dollar bill. He approached me and also saw I only had a dollar and kind of smiled as I handed it to him. I said sorry, I'd give you more, but that's all I have on me. He said thanks and I parked and went into the store.

That Wal Mart also had a Subway Sandwich Shop in it. So after getting the stuff I needed, I stopped in there and ordered a Foot long sandwich and an Ice tea and took it back to the homeless guy, he about started crying. He said it hurt to beg. I drove off wondering about  what put him where he was at, and decided it didn't really matter, I had done what I could. I wish him the best and hope I'm never in that position. 
Before joining this site, I looked down on the homeless, now I have empathy for their plight, but realize I can only help a little. Another day, another lesson.

 

[BradKW]

That was very kind of you. I used to do things like that, but I live in an area where it is not uncommon to be hit up for money 3-4 times a day, even interrupting while talking on phone, or trying to stop you while carrying heavy materials on to a job. Not every day, but enough that it's definitely affected my attitude towards homeless panhandlers. One guy asked for $0.25 as I walked out of a convenience store, I had a quarter in my hand and gave it to him, and he called me a cheap *******.

Anyway, point being...I liked the old me better.

 

[TrainChaser]

This is nothing against the truly homeless begging.  It's just that sometimes it isn't what you think.

I used to drive limo in Las Vegas.  I unloaded some passengers at the Landmark Hotel/Casino (long gone), and a man was loitering on the steps nearby.  When my passengers left, he approached me and asked if I had 18 cents that I could spare.  After this last group, I was out of every bit of coin change and ones.

Leaving the place, I realized what the situation probably was:  He had 7 cents on  him, and with 18 more cents, he could go back in and put the quarter into a slot machine.

Another time, a young man (certainly not more than 25 yo) was begging on an offramp with a sign:  "Homeless, Need Help. Vietnam Vet".  He never showed up anywhere after that.  I like to think that a real Vietnam Vet saw him and beat the snot out of him. :angel: