I've seen some hard-luck cases, though. My wife and I were eating in a fast food joint one time. I saw a car with out of state plates in the back of the parking lot.
There was a woman and three kids in the car. A man was going through the dumpster behind the place, pulling out partially eaten meals.
So, I went back into the restaurant and bought five meal deals and took it out back and gave it to the guy, along with a $10 bill.
I told him I didn't like seeing him digging food out of the dumpster for his family. He thanked me profusely for the food, and told me that they had run out of gas and only had to go about 20 more miles before they got to a relative's house. He didn't even have a quarter to use to call the relatives.
They were moving to the area, but a breakdown had used up their limited funds. They had almost gotten to their destination. My little help got them the rest of the way, and with full stomachs.
It's a matter of assessing the situation, it seems to me.
Exactly. I would rather err on the side of making sure the kids don't go hungry and give a hand in those kinds of situations. Sometimes people really are down on their luck and need a little boost. Of course with the cost of gas today you might have to take out a small loan to help out lol...j/k
got that right - you never know. Wouldn't want to be reminded "one day" that I didn't help "One of the least of these, my children?"
But you gotta admit, dumpster diving ain't panhandling. You did a good deed.
That was a really nice thing for you to do. Unfortunately, it's hard telling the truly needy from the con artists, which is why I never give anything to beggars with signs. I know and they know there are programs out there to help those who really are down on their luck. If they don't want to make the effort to seek them out, that tells me all I need to know about their true intentions.
I don't know that I buy that story still. Only 20 miles from their destination? Likely a local call. I'm sure any of the local businesses would have accomadated them with their phone so they could call their "relatives". Either they aren't very resourceful or they were lying, maybe in the hopes you might fork over a little more cash since they tugged at your heartstrings.
Psst, there were lots of dumpster divers in Phoenix. You wouldn't believe how many people living in ordinary homes do that to scrounge up stuff for yardsales to make money. They do it by scouring front yards for junk too that's left out in the trash.