I strongly recommend that you DO NOT give money to panhandlers. Two reasons for this:
1) Most of the panhandlers are not homeless. Rather, they take advantage of people’s sympathy and generosity toward the homeless. You are not helping the homeless if you give to a panhandler. More than likely you are enabling an alcohol or drug addiction by doing so.
2.) Many of the panhandlers seen day in and day out Downtown are professional panhandlers. Over the years they have developed and refined their stories, and they can easily make more begging than they would make at a minimum wage job. One Commercial Appeal story showed a photo of a guy who had made $13 in a half hour of begging. That’s $26 an hour, tax free… makes you wonder why you bother getting up to go to work in the morning, doesn’t it?
If you want to give money to help the homeless, it’s much more productive to give it the Ministries or Missions in your city. You expose yourself to danger by taking out money in public. Some of the career panhandlers are constantly in and out of jail; a few are convicted felons. By taking out cash to give to a panhandler, you’re putting yourself at risk to be robbed.
If not money, should you give food to panhandlers? It’s your call, but my recommendation is “no” on this one as well. On any given day there are between two and five churches and organizations that serve free meals in Downtown Memphis. Those truly in need should be able to ask around and find those locations fairly easily. Giving panhandlers food means that they don’t have to spend their own money on food, which means they have more money for their alcohol and drug addictions. If you really want to do something to help them, some items you might want to give include socks, toiletries, and phone cards.
What should you do if approached by a panhandler? The best thing to do is to avoid eye contact, say, “I’m sorry, I can’t help you,” and continue walking, never breaking stride. Be sure to walk in well-lit areas. If a panhandler threatens or intimidates you, call the police and report it.
1) Most of the panhandlers are not homeless. Rather, they take advantage of people’s sympathy and generosity toward the homeless. You are not helping the homeless if you give to a panhandler. More than likely you are enabling an alcohol or drug addiction by doing so.
2.) Many of the panhandlers seen day in and day out Downtown are professional panhandlers. Over the years they have developed and refined their stories, and they can easily make more begging than they would make at a minimum wage job. One Commercial Appeal story showed a photo of a guy who had made $13 in a half hour of begging. That’s $26 an hour, tax free… makes you wonder why you bother getting up to go to work in the morning, doesn’t it?
If you want to give money to help the homeless, it’s much more productive to give it the Ministries or Missions in your city. You expose yourself to danger by taking out money in public. Some of the career panhandlers are constantly in and out of jail; a few are convicted felons. By taking out cash to give to a panhandler, you’re putting yourself at risk to be robbed.
If not money, should you give food to panhandlers? It’s your call, but my recommendation is “no” on this one as well. On any given day there are between two and five churches and organizations that serve free meals in Downtown Memphis. Those truly in need should be able to ask around and find those locations fairly easily. Giving panhandlers food means that they don’t have to spend their own money on food, which means they have more money for their alcohol and drug addictions. If you really want to do something to help them, some items you might want to give include socks, toiletries, and phone cards.
What should you do if approached by a panhandler? The best thing to do is to avoid eye contact, say, “I’m sorry, I can’t help you,” and continue walking, never breaking stride. Be sure to walk in well-lit areas. If a panhandler threatens or intimidates you, call the police and report it.
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