Just went down to get coffee, and on my way out, a woman in what looks to be her late 30′s asks me for a couple bucks because she wants to buy food. A couple bucks?!? I know inflation is the trend right now, but come on, what happened to asking for some “spare change”?
I ended up giving her my $0.29 cents of change I had in my hand. I actually rarely give to panhandlers who ask for money. I generally feel more inclined to give when they don’t come up to me.
And did you hear about the panhandlers/street performers-entertainers in places like the San Francisco can make around $40k–tax free! Maybe I should consider a switch in profession. Although I have to admit, I did see some pretty entertaining stuff in Santa Monica…One performing group must have took in about $150.00 considering the amount of people watching. I’ll admit I gave him a dollar.
D
July 29, 2006 at 3:01 am
Every week when I go to Chicago, there are people that hang out on the off ramps and stop lights that ask for money. Since, I am a woman, some of them scare me, they are big, I don’t open my window. Some, I do give my change to sometimes and once I gave a guy my lunch. I will never forget his face (the guy I gave my lunch too) when he said “Bless You”. He was so happy to have that crappy sandwich I was going to eat on the road.
This leans me more on the side to give if I have now. But I still don’t do it, if I feel uncomfortable by their looks. I know they need it too, but I am scared.
freedumb
July 29, 2006 at 9:19 pm
D, You had any folks come up and start washing your windows yet? I really hate when they do that…But I agree, if they look dangerous, I stay far away. That’s a cool story…I’d be pretty stoked if someone gave me there lunch…I’m always hungry.
D
July 31, 2006 at 7:45 am
No window washing. That has only happened to me in New York. I must not hit the areas of Chicago where this is done or it doesn’t happen.