The Best You Can Do For Strangers on a Good Day
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Skanky Vamp
Sniffin' the Slayer
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GwenRaiden
AKA Apology Girl
I give money to homeless all the time (it's an epidemic here), I donate to Women's Aid regularly (mostly women's clothes and baby clothes, baby food/nappies). I'm wary about big charities, I'd rather donate to local charities, such as homeless hostels and cancer patient hospices.
I talk to the homeless guys a lot, make the drinks or buy a cake or something for them, I never give them money as I know that it will just go on booze. I donate clothes and things to charities often, like @GwenRaiden I prefer local charities too.
Most times I go food shopping I'll buy a few extra bits and donate them to the community food larder.
Most times I go food shopping I'll buy a few extra bits and donate them to the community food larder.
I have given my food to stangers, or made sure strangers get to eat, which is part of my job, but I would gladly do it anyway 🙂 I give old clothes and books to charity and I donate to all sorts of charities, usually animal related, or emergency requests by the DEC
I always donate clothes, toys, books, dvds to charity, rather than flogging stuff on eBay or Facebook. I have regular direct debits set up with national and local charities, such as a local children's hospice. I always try to sponsor friends for challenges etc too, even if it's just a fiver here and there, it's better than nothing.
We have a foodbank close by and I regularly donate tinned and packet foods (I'm a sucker for a BOGOF!). I'd rather someone ate it than it go out of date in our cupboards.
I am always wary about people on the street asking for money though. I worry they might just spend it on booze or drugs. I'd happily buy them food though,
We have a foodbank close by and I regularly donate tinned and packet foods (I'm a sucker for a BOGOF!). I'd rather someone ate it than it go out of date in our cupboards.
I am always wary about people on the street asking for money though. I worry they might just spend it on booze or drugs. I'd happily buy them food though,
GwenRaiden
AKA Apology Girl
I honestly have no problem giving homeless money knowing that it will get spent on alcohol or drugs. If it were me I'd hope people would do the same. As an addict having to live on the streets, the thought of being sober aswell as homeless sounds like a nightmare. Whatever helps them get through the night.
Mr Trick
Scooby
Interesting, but I just find that counterproductive. Such things should be a bonus to people poor or otherwise not least a homeless person who are struggling for the basics. And getting them drunk can just make things worse and make people less likely to give money or approach them.
Am quite cynical of many charities and put off by their aggressive advertising. But I tend to give spare change to people collecting on the streets and homeless people too.
Fuffy Baith
2017 (and 2016) Cutest BB member
I was going to say smiling. My smile brightens up everyone's day😀. Lol. I do give change or a could of dollars if I have it to spare. I'm usually in a hurry when I'm out and about. I don't really like to be bothered, but I'm always very polite to everyone. I've donated old clothes before but never volunteered anywhere to help people.
Professor Walsh
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thrasherpix
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I'm too chaotic and whimsical. I can be exceedingly charitable one day, but my charity is fickle.
I did volunteer at a food bank (which helped the homeless and those close to it) on a regular basis until it shut down, and for years after I helped at special dinners served to the homeless (Thanksgiving, Veteran's Day, etc).
When I was younger I used to keep spare change for panhandlers until some obviously held me in contempt for it (one calling me over while I was carrying several groceries so he, sitting on a bench, could panhandle me, and I gave a dollar to another who tried to guilt me into giving him a 5 as if I owed it to him which royally ticked me off) and I became more careful about that. Not that they were the only ones, in a bad neighborhood I used to live in, I got a reputation for cleaning up messes and even hazards, and neighbors would leave anonymous notes on my door rather than taking care of it themselves. I could share about some ridiculous patrons when I was a library volunteer as well. I don't mean to say that everyone was like that, but enough were to make me cautious. (I'm also aware that at least a few consider the charitable to be fair game as stupid, weak, and easy pickings for scams to even violence, and I stay alert for that.)
I rarely give to charities, and never without vetting them (and making sure they're who they say they are). With the notable exception of Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children, I've only given to local charities, and never with regularity (that is, I'm not a monthly donor). Wait, there are a couple more which weren't local, but those were special cases (and don't feel like explaining). When I volunteered at the food bank (and also at the dinners), I did contribute much to them (food, toilet paper, garbage bags, coffee, etc) with confidence that it was being used both competently and appropriately (and so glad I didn't give money after the embezzlement scandal that caused the food bank to shut down, but the embezzler was a bad apple who betrayed the rest of us, and the only mistake the people who operated it made was to not have someone check the books by trusting the embezzler simply because he was a preacher).
Offhand, I think the most charitable thing I ever done was for a neighbor who had gotten royally screwed and was probably going to lose her place, and her beloved cat (she'd arranged for me to take her cat if worse came to worse) and I, having extra money, took a wheelbarrow of groceries over at 2 AM (hoping no cops would stop me as I know they wouldn't believe it and it would just get awkward) of stuff she couldn't get with her EBT/food stamps (mostly paper products and cat food & litter), and also $20 in an envelope. It turned out that she hadn't told anyone else about her problems so she knew it was me, though it baffled her why I did it, and why I was anonymous about it. (It was to protect both of us: for me, I didn't want her to think I was a sucker who tried to leech onto me, and for her protection so she didn't have to worry about "hidden price tags" as those can be really terrible, which I know from personal experience that makes me wary of accepting charity from strangers myself, but with it being anonymous then no one can try to exact the hidden price or favor that would have never been agreed to had the price been stated from the start.) And for once I got some good karma from it as she ended up getting an assistant manager job (later full manager) who got me the employee discount on my favorite strawberry spritzers that I often couldn't afford at full price.
And then there's how I got with my current partner. Long story made very short, we barely knew each other, but she had hired me to take her daughter to the Hanna Montana movie (I made so much money from parents and grandparents willing to pay to not see that over and over with their daughters 😀 ) and then the swine flu hit, and when she got so sick that she was probably close to death (but had forbidden her daughter from calling 911), her daughter found my number on her mom's phone and called me (this after calling others who said call 911 or social services of some kind) and I went over there to take care of things (it's entirely possible that I saved her life by doing so). She said she couldn't pay me, and I said all I ask is if I get that sick then she do the same for me (I didn't realize it but I'd already gotten the swine flu, I just didn't suffer it as badly so I thought it had skipped me). As she was still recovering as her daughter's birthday came up I planned a Hannah theme party for the little girl (I'm a professional birthday entertainer anyway, but this was not only for free, but also partially at my own expense), and then her brother wanted a Transformers theme party which I researched and then made happen as well. (It was awhile after this before we became partners.)
I did volunteer at a food bank (which helped the homeless and those close to it) on a regular basis until it shut down, and for years after I helped at special dinners served to the homeless (Thanksgiving, Veteran's Day, etc).
When I was younger I used to keep spare change for panhandlers until some obviously held me in contempt for it (one calling me over while I was carrying several groceries so he, sitting on a bench, could panhandle me, and I gave a dollar to another who tried to guilt me into giving him a 5 as if I owed it to him which royally ticked me off) and I became more careful about that. Not that they were the only ones, in a bad neighborhood I used to live in, I got a reputation for cleaning up messes and even hazards, and neighbors would leave anonymous notes on my door rather than taking care of it themselves. I could share about some ridiculous patrons when I was a library volunteer as well. I don't mean to say that everyone was like that, but enough were to make me cautious. (I'm also aware that at least a few consider the charitable to be fair game as stupid, weak, and easy pickings for scams to even violence, and I stay alert for that.)
I rarely give to charities, and never without vetting them (and making sure they're who they say they are). With the notable exception of Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children, I've only given to local charities, and never with regularity (that is, I'm not a monthly donor). Wait, there are a couple more which weren't local, but those were special cases (and don't feel like explaining). When I volunteered at the food bank (and also at the dinners), I did contribute much to them (food, toilet paper, garbage bags, coffee, etc) with confidence that it was being used both competently and appropriately (and so glad I didn't give money after the embezzlement scandal that caused the food bank to shut down, but the embezzler was a bad apple who betrayed the rest of us, and the only mistake the people who operated it made was to not have someone check the books by trusting the embezzler simply because he was a preacher).
Offhand, I think the most charitable thing I ever done was for a neighbor who had gotten royally screwed and was probably going to lose her place, and her beloved cat (she'd arranged for me to take her cat if worse came to worse) and I, having extra money, took a wheelbarrow of groceries over at 2 AM (hoping no cops would stop me as I know they wouldn't believe it and it would just get awkward) of stuff she couldn't get with her EBT/food stamps (mostly paper products and cat food & litter), and also $20 in an envelope. It turned out that she hadn't told anyone else about her problems so she knew it was me, though it baffled her why I did it, and why I was anonymous about it. (It was to protect both of us: for me, I didn't want her to think I was a sucker who tried to leech onto me, and for her protection so she didn't have to worry about "hidden price tags" as those can be really terrible, which I know from personal experience that makes me wary of accepting charity from strangers myself, but with it being anonymous then no one can try to exact the hidden price or favor that would have never been agreed to had the price been stated from the start.) And for once I got some good karma from it as she ended up getting an assistant manager job (later full manager) who got me the employee discount on my favorite strawberry spritzers that I often couldn't afford at full price.
And then there's how I got with my current partner. Long story made very short, we barely knew each other, but she had hired me to take her daughter to the Hanna Montana movie (I made so much money from parents and grandparents willing to pay to not see that over and over with their daughters 😀 ) and then the swine flu hit, and when she got so sick that she was probably close to death (but had forbidden her daughter from calling 911), her daughter found my number on her mom's phone and called me (this after calling others who said call 911 or social services of some kind) and I went over there to take care of things (it's entirely possible that I saved her life by doing so). She said she couldn't pay me, and I said all I ask is if I get that sick then she do the same for me (I didn't realize it but I'd already gotten the swine flu, I just didn't suffer it as badly so I thought it had skipped me). As she was still recovering as her daughter's birthday came up I planned a Hannah theme party for the little girl (I'm a professional birthday entertainer anyway, but this was not only for free, but also partially at my own expense), and then her brother wanted a Transformers theme party which I researched and then made happen as well. (It was awhile after this before we became partners.)
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GwenRaiden
AKA Apology Girl
Alcohol should be a bonus if you're poor? So only people with money can indulge and have fun?
Homeless addicts don't care about food or the basics - they just want to make it through a cold night on the street comfortably. And for them that's drugs or alcohol. Sadly. It's just the reality of the situation. I won't take that away from them by buying them food instead of giving them money. They can make that decision for themselves as grown adults with lots of life experience.
I've done all of the above before, when money was available. The sad truth is that I shouldn't be giving money away with the amount of debts that I have, and the small salary that I make. But when you have a roof over your head, food on the table, money to spend on drinks, and friends, I can't really complain. And if I can afford that, I surely can help people once in a while. Like many others though, I do prefer local charities, or giving to individuals, compared to big organizations.
But honestly, even when I can't help, as I'm sure many other can't, a smile, or stopping for a small conversation makes all the difference. So many times people have asked for money and I didn't have any on me, but I still stopped to have a short convo, and the people I talked to were always super nice and friendly. It makes my day, as much as it makes theirs, to see people happy to just talk. And let me tell you, homeless people are usually more polite than most business men out there.
100% this. I used to think that eh, I rather buy them food so I know where the money goes, than I realized that in doing so I'm being judgmental, and I'm taking away their own free will. Now, if food is all I have on me, that's what I'll give them, but if I have money to give, I will gladly do so and I hope they spend it however they please. If that's on booze and drugs, than I have no problem with that, they can make their own decisions. And once that money is in their hands, it's theirs to spend.
But honestly, even when I can't help, as I'm sure many other can't, a smile, or stopping for a small conversation makes all the difference. So many times people have asked for money and I didn't have any on me, but I still stopped to have a short convo, and the people I talked to were always super nice and friendly. It makes my day, as much as it makes theirs, to see people happy to just talk. And let me tell you, homeless people are usually more polite than most business men out there.
100% this. I used to think that eh, I rather buy them food so I know where the money goes, than I realized that in doing so I'm being judgmental, and I'm taking away their own free will. Now, if food is all I have on me, that's what I'll give them, but if I have money to give, I will gladly do so and I hope they spend it however they please. If that's on booze and drugs, than I have no problem with that, they can make their own decisions. And once that money is in their hands, it's theirs to spend.
Fuffy Baith
Good job!
I suppose it's because I now know these guys and their health conditions that I won't give them money, one is a drug addict that will mix drugs and has overdosed several times because of it. Another is an alcoholic with a failing liver and not long had a stroke, so knowing that by giving them money I will be responsible for making their health worse.
I'd feel terrible if I gave a homeless person money, they spent it on drugs and then they OD'd and died. I appreciate they're grown adults and have to be responsible for their own outcome, but I just couldn't feel responsible for that.
Granted, I would probably never know, but still. In my heart, knowing that could happen, I just couldn't enable their addiction in that way.
GwenRaiden
AKA Apology Girl
They'll get drugs or booze one way or another, belive me. Giving them money feels like the safer option to me. I wouldn't want to see them rob someone or have to sell themselves instead.
On the other hand, there are plenty of homeless people without addictions that do just want food and clothing. I have given quite a few homeless people backpacks with food, toiletries and clothing and dog food if they have a dog. But if someone would prefer money I will give them money for the reasons stated above.
On the other hand, there are plenty of homeless people without addictions that do just want food and clothing. I have given quite a few homeless people backpacks with food, toiletries and clothing and dog food if they have a dog. But if someone would prefer money I will give them money for the reasons stated above.