Posted on 10/08/2014 8:45:07 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Ft. Polk, I only remember one drill sergeants name of all of them.
In Orlando a few weeks ago, I’m headed into a Winn Dixie on Orange Blossom and a guy hits me up for money. I asked him if he was hungry, he said yes. I bought some food, left the store and handed him the bag. He was very grateful, thanking me. As I drove away, I saw him go back into the store with the bag. I didn’t know you could return groceries.
Actually, I’ve bought food for people several times but I’ve never witnessed them eating it.
Hope not because last week I saw a guy in his 60’s with an Army hat on that was so pathetic looking I gave him a wad of cash from my pocket. Probably about 30 bucks. And no I am not naïve enough to be convinced that we served in the same Army or that he would not get drunk again that night. But there was just something about the guy....
I think I would have gone back into the store to see what he did with the food.
Never ever give money,you can feed them,get them some clothes or donate to a homeless charity.
I've found that true in most instances.
Two times I was approached by people (this was two different cities, in two different states) asking for gas money.
The first time, I was close to a station, and had to fuel up anyway, so I offered to put $10-worth in their tank (at the time, fuel was under $1.50/gallon) so they could get back to the neighboring city. They hemmed and hawed, then finally agreed when I told them I didn't carry cash. When I put the gas in their car, the nozzle clicked off at about 3 gallons. They sheepishly tried to claim the gauge didn't work, but I knew they only wanted beer money.
The second time, I told the person to follow me in my car to the gas station across the street, and I'd give her enough to get somewhere else. Same thing. She pulled out, was right behind me, and then went straight as I pulled into the gas station.
I worked as a firefighter for twenty five years for a city with a reputation for having the most crime and social problems in the state. Many of those in my crews were veterans and any time we came across someone who was begging and claiming to be a veteran we almost always checked it out. We had many contacts with resources to help veterans. Unfortunately, during my entire career working as a firefighter my crews and I never met one person who was begging and claiming to be a vet who actually was a veteran. Up until about ten years ago most were claiming to be Vietnam vets a vast majority of whom were not even born or were still in grade school in March of 1973 when the last US Combat troops pulled out.
My experience is not unique. I was talking to a man who runs a non-profit that helps actual veterans with substance abuse problems by giving them jobs and a place to stay while they go through a counseling program. He said that in the twenty years that he had been working at it... he had also not met one person begging who claimed to be a veteran who actually was a vet.
There are many programs and resources available to help veterans with psychological or substance abuse problems. If someone wants to help homeless veterans... the best thing that they can do is familiarize themselves with what resources are available in their community and if they come across someone who is having difficulty... try to help them make contact.
What you will most likely find is that the person you are concerned about is a scam artist who is not a veteran. Also the person most likely wants only your money and has no interest in making any changes to their current lifestyle. This is strictly the voice of experience speaking and not the way that I want it or wish it to be. As a Christian I think that it is our calling to help those less fortunate than ourselves. But we should also try to make sure that our “help” is not perpetuating negative lifestyle choices.
IIRC there was a time when New York subway cars were all entirely covered with graffiti and amazingly this problem was solved. BTW New York is not a capital city.
I walk to work in Richmond, VA everyday. There are a number of corners that have our professional beggars with their cardboard I’m a homeless Vet and God Bless signs. I see the same cadre of beggars and noticed that they rotated corners. They never seem to pile up on any given corner and then I discovered that they actually have a scheduler. One day the scheduler was on the corner (with HIS cardboard) and another beggar walked up and he said where where you? and other less kind things. Finally he left the replacement beggar to the corner and walked off. I see them with coffee and lunch purchased at the local convience mart. I also saw someone had one his lunch (from his car window) and as soon as he drove away the “beggar” walked to the sewer and tossed it down. Never even looked inside. Do I give to beggars? sorry, no I don’t. My church does in the form of a soup kitchen and handing out clothes and even helping with paying for prescriptions, But I don’t hand money to the street corner beggar. But, that’s me.
#8 Expose the frauds.
I don’t hand money to beggars, it encourages them.
Here in Europe, many homeless on the street have dogs.
Recently I have seen a guy with sign identifying himself as a disabled "vetaran". You would think a genuine veteran would have seen the word so many times that they would get it right, but maybe not.
I did two tours and all of my buds served in the Nam, I waded into a swamp of frauds, wannabes and bull shitters.
About 2/3 of homeless are alcoholics, drug addicts and/or mentally ill.
I ask them if they have an addiction issue? Depending on the answer, I invite them to an AA meeting.
I also ask them if they have a service related disability (which gives them monthly income)?
I was listening to a doctor on an addiction segment on TV. The doctor said he interviews patients, to determine if they are indeed alcoholics/addicts? If they lie, that reinforces the diagnosis.
Drug addicts and alcoholics are great manipulators. The “homeless vet” bit is one such routine.
Thanks to Apple iPay you can now give by just bumping your iPhone to their iPhone! No cash needed! Ain't technology great? :-)
Actually, I’ve bought food for people several times but I’ve never witnessed them eating it.
In Orlando, on Colonial Drive around 1988-89 or so in my pre-cell phone days, I have to stop at a convenience store to make a call at the bank of pay phones that were outside the store.
Guy approaches asking for money as he was hungry and had just been released from jail the day before (points for honesty). I told him to follow me into the store, where I told him to pick out what he wanted to eat (from the ready-to-eat hot area). He had a tear roll down his face as he thanked me.
Fast-forward to 2014...so many scams in my little corner of GreenAcres that we see the same people hustling high traffic areas and parking lots all the time.
"Sorry to bother anyone. I don't dance. I don't play the bongos. I'm a homeless veteran. I guess that doesn't mean much anymore. But if I were to do back flips maybe I'd get your attention . . . especially at my age that'd be miracle. But I did my time. So, if you could help out I would appreciate it. No. No song or dance from me. Again, sorry to bother anyone."
I've refused to give to that guy due to his tone. He shames his audience and knocks the performers in the subway who are providing entertainment, even if it's unwanted. No need for that. He should work on his pitch and stop berating his potential benefactors. Again, sorry to bother anyone.
Tzedakah (charity) delivers from death” Mishlei 10:2 I'm proof!
Fruit bearing trees are not cut down in time of war... Deuteronomy 20:19
Give, or choose your Ebola (strain)
I knew a man once who had been through Teen Challenge for alcohol and drug rehabilitation, and he told me once to NEVER give any money to the guys begging for it.
He told me that he knew them from the Rescue mission and they have that option. He knew they were drug addicts and alcoholics and that's the only thing they'd be using their money for.
No one is turned away from the Rescue Mission. The reason those guys don't avail themselves of it is because there is accountability and they don't want it.
And he also told me to NEVER feel guilty for not giving them the money.
Hearing it from someone like that was enough for me.
I give my money to the Rescue Mission. If those *homeless* people need food and shelter, they can find it there, like many others who have gone before them. It's there if they really want and really want to try. They don't.
FWIW, this man had turned his life around out of the drugs and alcohol, had a steady, full time job and was supporting a wonderful family.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.