If I help the poor and needy, does that include giving change to pan handler's?

Answer 1

That would count, yes.

Answer 2

Pan Handler's live off the fat of the land....good times or bad.
In my humble opinion...it's not the same thing as helping the deserving poor, or needy.
Having been all over the world...I've witnessed real and terrible poverty/misery.
Pan Handler's (most in my opinion) could care less about getting work....bettering themselves....or improving their condition. I'm not here to judge anyone...but I think that you actually do more harm by giving Pan Handler's money.
Living in Houston, I've driven by the same Pan Handler's during excellent and bad economic conditions....living off the fat of the land.
I'm sure very few of them, as little children, ever dreamed of growing up and becoming Pan Handler's. Life just knocked them down enough times to finally land them on their backs.
Nevertheless, consistently giving money the these Pan Handlers only entrenches their position in life.
If you have to give them anything (to ease your own conscious)....give food and a friendly smile.
My thoughts only.....-Vinny.

Answer 3

It depends on your reason... if you are helping them because you feel a need to then it does not matter who you help... if you are helping because you want to do good to your fellow human being then judge not lest they be judged...and help.. if you can but good heavens some streets you walk down you would be broke within 5 blocks.

My own personal belief is to put my money were I feel it does the most good for the greatest amount of people or that feels right for me. I personally help children's hospitals because they need it and do not have a choice.

Normally though I do what I can where I can because we can not help everybody. If I have the spare coin I would happily buy them or give them some food. Never treat a person that is asking badly though because you do not know why they are there but chose your battles.

This of course is only a personal choice something you have to make for you.

Hope that helps
sortatechy

Answer 4

Not all panhandlers are needy. There was a story in a local newspaper several years ago about a man that went to thrift store to buy"street" clothes and would panhandle from 7:00 A.M. until 6:30 P.M. in several areas in the city, then walk to his BMW and drive home. He was finally busted, but this stuff happens often, according to the paper (quoting the police).

Answer 5

not necessarily, you don't know which are really in need of the $$ & most pan-handler's misuse it (beer, drugs); that's if they are really street-person by calamity.

a better way than handing out your own hard-earned $$ may be to "help the poor & needy" thru your own mehtods: volunteer, activism, donate to agencies that are responsible (only use limited % of $$ dontated to administration), etc

giving $$ to pan-handler's can also reinforce their decision not to enrol in social programs or otherwise, re-integrate into regular employment.
(i rather buy them food on the spot then give 'em$$ & if they decline, than i know they don't need my help)

i have literally seen an average girl on the same subway car as me & when she got off @same dowtown stop, on the way up to street level- she picked a spot right be entrance/ext-stairs & started panhandling
(so don't talk about non-judgement, its the only way we can come to conclusions after proper reflection & analysis)

Answer 6

I saw one interviewed on TV, and he said that he earned sometimes $400.00 a day. So, how much do you make? Most of those people are able bodied, so why don't they get a job, pay taxes like the rest of us? Handing money over to them is encourging them to "bum" money from hard working people. Instead of giving them money, offer to buy them a meal, and see what they say. I think you will find they will refuse. They want the money to buy boose and or drugs. Most cities don't allow it anyway. If you have money to give to the needy, make sure you give to a truly needy cause.

Answer 7

How would that help them?
I am sorry, but the beggars that hang out near the freeway and the mall, do not look in dire straights.
They are fat, well dressed and look to be fit to work. One liar, walks through my neigborhood with a crutch (that is neither adjusted properly to actually be a benefit, nor is it actually used.) He has strong calves(he wears shorts) and the crutch hits the ground about 2 feet away from his left foot.
He goes through the neighborhood taking out the recyclables
from the cans that the city has provided (through my tax dollars) to help pay the trashmens high wages, and then stands out there begging for more?
In addition to this, these people are colloecting welfare and assistance from other sources. Why on earth woulod anyone feel compelled to give them anything more?
I had friends who discovrered this generosity based on guilt by those who worked, and manipulated it to support their heroin addictions.
Why do you people continue to play into the hands of these expert con artists?
The Bible says, " If a man does not want to work, neither let him eat".

Answer 8

It'd be better to hand them a boxed lunch or a bottle of water. There are some that are truly homeless and need the money for food, but there are some that are just collecting money for alcohol or drugs. This way, you know you are not keeping someone from eating, but you aren't helping someone that really needs a different kind of help.

Answer 9

Yes. I need to find out where you go to work. I'll be waiting outside with a pan everyday!
Seriously though you should help out the poor they need it in anyway possible.

Answer 10

If you feel uncomfortable giving a panhandler change, you can give a plastic bag with a meal in flip top cans, a handwritten message of hope and a map to the nearest homeless shelter - a hopebag

http://www.hopebags.com

Answer 11

oh absolutly. We all know that these kinds of bums live their lives like this mostly due to addiction. So why not help them get the drugs/alcohol they need. We don't want them to suffer do we?
Give your money to charities that help the homeless with food clothes and a place to stay. Escpecially places that help them become employed.
other wise your only promoting addiction.

give them food.

btw they are not starving. There are shelters and chruches that feed them daily. The bums know these places better than you do. Because they are there every day. or other