Finally able to pay it forward!

[Chris142]

As many know I'm not rich. We don't go hungry but we don't drive new cars, I don't buy tools from
The tool trucks etc.

In the past I have had people from this forum send me tools,filters etc.

Today I got to pay it forward.

I have a strict policy against giving beggers cash. I feel that im just fueling their drug problem plus most are scammers now.

Walked out of the store this morning and a young guy asked me for $.

I told him I don't have cash but i hàve a debit card and if he was hungry let's go back in the store and get him something.

He picked out a box of hot pockets and a Pepsi.

Not the most nutritional food but food. Not alcohol or anything like that .

So those that have sent me stuff in the past I didn't forget your generosity.

 

[Leo99]

There is a lot of "stuff" going on out there. I was at a gas station/convenience store last week around 6pm. To exit, there is a traffic light. About 30 yards away I noticed a shoeless young lady who was visibly upset. I debated wanting to help her but ultimately decided it was mostly likely a scam.

 

[walterjay]

Last week in Charlestown Virginia I was stopped and asked by two young druggies if I could give them a few bucks as they had run out of gas.
Told them sorry I don't carry cash.

 

[crashz]

I applaud you. Its tough to help now because of the scammers. I try, but I usually try to help by donating to charities or people that I know and know their situation. Been burned many times, but it still pains me to turn a blind eye.

 

[walterjay]

I applaud you helping him. Looks like you did the right thing. Unfortunately we never know who the scammers are and they a aplenty. Couple years ago a frazzled woman approached me asking for a handout to buy food. I directed her to social services which was a few blocks away. She would have nothing to do with that.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I try and help. I used to diss some of the people until someone told me, "If you hadn't have helped them that day they might have died."

 

[Mazomopar]

We were giving Wendy's a visit the other night and the the folks behind the counter misfired and gave us four burgers instead of the two we ordered. Told us keep them, we have to throw out returns. Rather than consuming another 3000 calories I didn't need or tossing them out, I spotted a high-school aged kid sitting politely in the corner starring out the window, not eating. So on the way out I made small talk and asked him if he wanted them. He asked me 3 times are you sure before finally taking the deal. Think he had one finished before I got my coat on and got to the car.

 

[Cujet]

Many of us are willing to help. However, as mentioned above, it is about impossible to know whether it is actually helping. I will not willingly fund someone's drug and alcohol problem. So I just avoid the situation entirely. Even within one's own family, there can be 'scammers'.

The good news is that for people who really need help, organizations exist to cover the need. Maybe it is best to know what these are, and to simply direct people there.

 

[walterjay]

I give money to two trustworthy charities. They sort things out for me.

 

[4WD]

We see poor folks overseas hanging around fast food places with their kids - one of us will just place an extra order and hand them the bag on the way out …

 

[b4autodark]

I stopped for a meal at a small town eatery a couple weeks ago, the young waitress was cheerful and did a good job. I was the only customer and the new place across the street was busy. I had a bowl of soup and a cheese sandwich and left her $50.00. She told me no way but I insisted and left, she had tears in her eyes. My Mom always told me to do something nice for someone every day.

 

[scoot]

I stopped for a meal at a small town eatery a couple weeks ago, the young waitress was cheerful and did a good job. I was the only customer and the new place across the street was busy. I had a bowl of soup and a cheese sandwich and left her $50.00. She told me no way but I insisted and left, she had tears in her eyes. My Mom always told me to do something nice for someone every day.

She will never forget it and maybe years from now she can do the same thing .

 

[Zee09]

I was in Roanoke VA. a few weeks back and a very scruffy young man
approached my car and wanted money for food and I was eating Wendy's at the time and I offered him a hamburger and fries and he got very angry and said he needs money for Chinese food and sodas.

I told him to walk over to the passenger side and I would take him there. As he walked around the car I just took off...

 

[Kruse]

When I feel somebody REALLY needs some help, I'll help them. But with the availability of shelters or food stamps, I use caution.
However, quite a few years ago, I was in downtown Dallas, TX and a guy comes up to me with his hand out and said: "I haven't eaten in a week!". He looked serious, so with a 7-11 convenience store just a half a block away, I cautiously told him to go to it. We went inside and told him to pick out a Big Dog (their super hot dog) and a milk and I'd pay for it. He wasted no time getting both. I paid for the items and I noticed he devoured both items really quick.
Just a few days before last Christmas, I was in Mazatlan, Mexico and there was an envelope on the Holiday Inn nightstand that said: "Your maid is Maria and she could use some gratuity." I normally don't tip hotel staff much or at all, but I put $20 American bill in the envelope and wrote "!Feliz Navidad" on it. The room maintainer obviously had a job, so I didn't feel like it was a waste of money. And, they have no problem finding a way to spend American money there.
Whenever you just GIVE some people money, quite often it goes to the wrong places. I don't mind saying that I will give to some people if there is just a little bit of screening. I never give to anybody at a stop light.

 

[Chris142]

I have been offering to buy food instead of giving cash for about 15 years. Today was the first time someone actually wanted the food.

 

[doitmyself]

The good news is that for people who really need help, organizations exist to cover the need. Maybe it is best to know what these are, and to simply direct people there.

YES!!!! Handouts to the street people undermines a town's social programs to assist these people get off the streets.

 

[ATex7239]

I kind of figured the homeless were more of a health conscious group.

 

[4WD]

I kind of figured the homeless were more of a health conscious group.

Good, bcs sometimes I hand them a bottle of water when they approach my vehicle - never had one refused

 

[ripcord]

I spent the past 5-6 weeks in, out and around Montana and parts west. I noticed that the class of roadside corner beggars there trend more to the actually needy. It's not that none of them were dirty hippy drug addict types, but a lot more were actual one legged veteran, elderly, and otherwise physically disabled than I see on the coast.

My trust and sympathy for the "homeless" fell quite a bit after I spent a few hours reading r/vagabond on reddit (which has 1.2 million members!).

 

[Pew]

I stopped for a meal at a small town eatery a couple weeks ago, the young waitress was cheerful and did a good job. I was the only customer and the new place across the street was busy. I had a bowl of soup and a cheese sandwich and left her $50.00. She told me no way but I insisted and left, she had tears in her eyes. My Mom always told me to do something nice for someone every day.

As a former waiter, I would like to thank you. It's situations like these that people will continue to tell for their entire life.