With all the talk on charity I'm wondering what everyone's thoughts are when they see a homeless person begging on the street?
Personally I believe in charity, but I don't believe in begging. By this I mean I am all for donating to a cause, but it is only if I believe in it and feel that my contribution will be appreciated and put to good use. For these reasons I will soon join the group on Kiva and hopefully make my first contribution by Xmas time as it is not only a great cause, but it looks like it goes to good use and is greatly appreciated!
An example of what I would like to discuss is- I have a 1 block walk from the train station to the building I work in and everyday in this short distance I see 3 beggars and 1 Salvation Army bell-ringer, so far the only person I give to is the Salvation Army and there is one beggar in particular that I really question and almost want to just take a few minutes and talk to.
He is an older man who sits in a chair with a giant cross around his neck that is there everyday when I get to work and leave, making me think that he sits there all day(of course taking breaks to eat and use the bathroom wherever he does both), but what I wonder is-
What does he do with the money he collects?
1) Does he use it to help his predicament, possibly saving up to get some type of shelter or to move on to a new area?
2) Does he use it help others, possibly giving to others at a homeless shelter?
3) Does he use it to get by, just paying for his necessities of food and clothing?
4) Does he just use it selfishly and only for the things he is too lazy to work for himself, possibly drugs and booze?
Having an entrepreneurial mind and trying to see the good in people is why I have such questions, while most would just assume #4, I really want to think it is one of the top 3, possibly even #2 which I feel would be the most noble and best use of the donations given to him. As far as idea #1 I first thought of what I would do if I was in that situation which would be to either save up and try to get off the streets OR after seeing how content the homeless people in both Miami and Santa Monica were that it would be worth it to save up for a bus ticket there or somewhere else warm instead of sitting in the freezing cold Chicago Winter. Even if he did #3 I wouldn't have a problem as I don't know what happened in his life to get where he is now and if this is all he wants in life and gets what he needs good for him, as long as he doesn't just expect people to give him money and truly does appreciate every last cent that is given to him.
So with that, what are your thoughts?
Personally I believe in charity, but I don't believe in begging. By this I mean I am all for donating to a cause, but it is only if I believe in it and feel that my contribution will be appreciated and put to good use. For these reasons I will soon join the group on Kiva and hopefully make my first contribution by Xmas time as it is not only a great cause, but it looks like it goes to good use and is greatly appreciated!
An example of what I would like to discuss is- I have a 1 block walk from the train station to the building I work in and everyday in this short distance I see 3 beggars and 1 Salvation Army bell-ringer, so far the only person I give to is the Salvation Army and there is one beggar in particular that I really question and almost want to just take a few minutes and talk to.
He is an older man who sits in a chair with a giant cross around his neck that is there everyday when I get to work and leave, making me think that he sits there all day(of course taking breaks to eat and use the bathroom wherever he does both), but what I wonder is-
What does he do with the money he collects?
1) Does he use it to help his predicament, possibly saving up to get some type of shelter or to move on to a new area?
2) Does he use it help others, possibly giving to others at a homeless shelter?
3) Does he use it to get by, just paying for his necessities of food and clothing?
4) Does he just use it selfishly and only for the things he is too lazy to work for himself, possibly drugs and booze?
Having an entrepreneurial mind and trying to see the good in people is why I have such questions, while most would just assume #4, I really want to think it is one of the top 3, possibly even #2 which I feel would be the most noble and best use of the donations given to him. As far as idea #1 I first thought of what I would do if I was in that situation which would be to either save up and try to get off the streets OR after seeing how content the homeless people in both Miami and Santa Monica were that it would be worth it to save up for a bus ticket there or somewhere else warm instead of sitting in the freezing cold Chicago Winter. Even if he did #3 I wouldn't have a problem as I don't know what happened in his life to get where he is now and if this is all he wants in life and gets what he needs good for him, as long as he doesn't just expect people to give him money and truly does appreciate every last cent that is given to him.
So with that, what are your thoughts?
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