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pointed them to the nearest church.

Sadly churches now have to be careful as well. My church has decided that we will no longer give money. Food and clothing, yes, and we will arrange a place for you to stay but you will not walk out with cash. We got burned too often.

a.cricket

...but you will not walk out with cash.

My church didn't hand out cash even to parishioners. If there were specific needs such as rent, car payments, etc. they wrote a check made out to the appropriate payee.

our church was geting abused too. We have a deal with the local struck stop to provide a meal for anyone without money. The bums were ordering steaks and big deserts so we changed it to the Buffet meal only.

My brother-in-law stopped at one of them with the WILL WORK FOR FOOD signs and offered a meal and a days wages for some post hole digging and the bum said no thanks.

I know a minister who bragged about wearing rags so that people would donate to him and his wife. They had $3,000 cash in the bank and no debt but he wore ragged shirts and kept his kids poorly dressed as well. The children weren't even clean.

The best con job I heard about was true. A well dressed man came to town and went to all the ministers. He told each one, "I heard you are the best preacher in town. I want to join your church." Then he said, "Before my funds transfer to the local bank, could you give me a little to buy some things?" He got $20-100 from each minister, then left town. When they compared notes they realized how he had played upon their vanity. That's pan-handling with style.

I used to help a few people. Then our house was marked by their beggar's union. I heard the same story over and over. "I was driving to Florida to visit my dying mother and I ran out of cash. I have to see her. Could you spare a few dollar?"