I am sure with the current economic state we're in panhandling is on the rise. I firmly believe that helping others is part of wealth building. Whether it's giving back to God at church, donating to a charitable cause, or helping a homeless person.
Giving should be from the heart and when it is from the heart I feel it's gives a feeling of abundance. To feel as though you can give acknowledges that you have plenty and all you need. Those who receive should feel the same abundance upon receiving. Feelings of abundance just promotes more abundance. But how do we know that those we help really need it? Are some doing it as there sole source income with no intention of getting a job, starting a career, or starting their own business?
Panhandlers can turn up at e variety of places. Especially the more aggressive ones. Places they can be found are:
- ATM banking machines.
- Entry ways to stores or restaurants.
- While existing your car or while your waiting at a stop light.
- Possibly offering a gift like a stick of gum in exchange for a donation
- Solicit at night.
- Invade your personal space and block you or begin initiating inappropriate touching.
- Camp out in front of a business in hopes that the owner will give them money to go away.
Cities like Chicago and Atlanta have passed laws banning panhandling. Orlando, Florida requires panhandlers to get a permit to do so. A 2002 study in Canada reported that panhandlers earn an average of $638 a month (in Canadian dollars).
So how do you know if the person who is asking you for money is actually in need?
A couple of weeks ago while waiting in the drive-thru at In 'N Out, looking forward to my double double cooked animal style, a panhandler approached my car. Telling me he and his family where from out of town and out of gas. They were stranded. I grabbed the spare change out my console and handed it to the gentleman. He thanked me and went on his way. After he left I thought who takes their family on a trip and doesn't have enough money for gas.
Yesterday, while getting gas, a young man approached me. Telling me a similar story. He was out town and out of gas and here to see his daughter. I usually don't have any change on me because I mainly use my debit card. I went to my console and had remembered that I had gave the change I had to the gentleman in the drive-thru two weeks earlier. So I asked him where his car was. Thinking well I'll use my debit card to get him a couple of gallons of gas and get him where he needs to go. Turned out his cars was miles away. And from what he told me on where his car was there were plenty of other gas stations in that area. Why was he at this one? It made no sense to me.
I quickly realized that there was probably no car out of gas. That he was just trying get money out of people. This also made me think this was a way to weed out those actually in need and those who were just turning panhandling into a part time or full time job. If they ask for gas money-buy them gas. If they need something to eat-get them something to eat. I think by offering to get the panhandler exactly what they are asking for separates the have from the have nots and beats the haves at their own game. What do you think?
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