I do the samer, and always get a smile. I’ve also paid for their meals and coffees, on the ‘QT’, and left quietly, while tipping the waitress/cashier, nicely, to keep it to herself.
That is my preferred way of doing it as well, but...that is just because I don’t want them to feel uncomfortable. I usually make a point of thanking them for their service and then paying and leaving...
Funny, a couple of years ago, I got an idea to go into Logan Airport a couple of days before Christmas and hand out cash to incoming flights with military personnel, but my brother and wife talked me out of it. They said it would be too weird for some of them, and...well, I guess it could have been.
Every year before Christmas my wife and I take a sum out of our joint account, divvy it up and give it to whatever charity we want.
I love doing it, and give all mine to military associated organizations, but I was getting all kinds of information from Freepers “Don’t give to this one, don’t give to that one...” to the point I just couldn’t feel comfortable giving to any of them...handing out the cash was my easy way out.
Sigh, I usually give to the USO, to the the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, etc, but...I have reservations.
I know this sounds awful, but I cannot fathom making contributions to organizations that are going to possibly redistribute to homosexual couples...and I don’t have any control over that. I don’t want to not get money to some of these, but I don’t know how to reconcile that.
Damn.
As one Freeper suggested, maybe I will find a way to do everything locally this year.
Me too. I just quietly slip the server my credit card and tell them to put their tabs on me.