I try to give food. I know they are geniune in their request when I provide food for them and they are grateful.

I was once approached by a man at a gas station I used to frequent who was dressed normally, not like a bum or anything of the sort. He was very humble and acted quite embarassed. He told me that he was travelling home but the belt on his car had broken, but he didn't have the money to repair it. I gave him a couple of bucks and he took off.

About a month later at the same gas station, the same guy walks up. Moreover, he tells the same story. I just tell him to get lost and nothing more.

A short time later, I'm at the gas station down the street about a mile or so, pumping gas. The same guy comes up with the same story. I told him he needed to get a new story, and then proceeded to yell to every person at the gas station who he hadn't asked for money yet that he was a scam artist who'd been pulling this scam for months. He ducked his head and ran off as fast as he could. I've never seen him since.

There are people out there who make a living begging. They have a house, a car (or two), families, pets, and they eat very well every night. During the day, they dress down, try to look poor, and beg for money for "food".

Think about it though, if 15 people give you just $1 in an hour, you just made way above minimum wage. If you can pull that off for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, you'd make over 30k a year. People who give often give more than a dollar too.

I prefer to give food.

__________________
Andrew DeShazo, Deacon, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Memphis, TN
"All of us stumble in many ways, but if anyone is never at fault in what he says, then he is mature, able to control his whole body."(James 3:2)