Here in Rockingham County, NC we’ve had lots of people who have been turned down/denied funds/told there were not monies available. Our church handled one resident who called for some help with her power bill. One of our deacons went over to the residence and found the same situation: big screen tv blasting away in the middle of the afternoon, everyone on different cell phones, ipods, gadgets, etc.
Hard to remain compassionate when you see how people use their funds on wants and wait for the needs to be met by others.
I live in Raleigh, and grew up in Charlotte. Nice to meet you, FRiend.
Yes, I try to be as compassionate as I can, but I don’t know if it’s a test of my faith, or a slap in the face when you try to help people and find them in situations that they (themselves) perpetuate.
I don’t understand the feeling of entitlement that some apparently have.
I stopped giving money to panhandlers years ago when I realized that all I was doing was allowing them to keep asking me.