What’s the right thing to do? No matter where you go, there’s a good chance you will run into a panhandler. If you live in a walking town, they are sitting along the streets, and for driving towns, they walk up and down red light intersections soliciting for money.
You know some of these folks are good people going through hard times, but you also know many of them are trying to scrape up enough for their next fix of booze or drugs. You want to help, but you don’t want to enable their habit, right?
So what do you do? Here’s the short list of options:
- Pull out your cell and pretend you got an important call
- Give a nod and a polite “No, I can’t right now” look
- Talk to anyone with you to appear too distracted to notice them
- Flat out ignore them
- Give them a few coins
- Get them some food and drink
- Or Talk to them
But you only get a moment to decide before it’s too late to help.
Giving Money Won’t Help Most Panhandlers
Scammers report making 6-figure incomes, but this is not the norm. And not every panhandler is a bad person. Some are legit and need help. But for panhandlers, most fall into one of these categories:
- Homeless
- Runaways
- Poor but not homeless
- Veterans
- Mentally Ill
- Scammers
And of these groups, which is which? There’s no way you can really tell.
Some of them have great stories that elicit heartfelt emotions. They may or may not be true, but they’ll tug on your heart strings.
Should you give them cash? That’s really up to you. Just know that when you gift them money, it’s possible they will use it for something other than food or shelter. But, for those who are honestly struggling, you might make all the difference.
No matter which path you take, giving or not giving, there’s still more you should do. And there are plenty of reasons to feel good about giving.
Remember They Aren’t A Faceless Person
We all have a story, and we all have ups and downs. So what can you do if you see someone on the street looking for money?
- Be respectful: Look them in the eye and tell them you can’t help them (or that you hope your contribution helps). They are a fellow human being.
- If you give them money or not, don’t just assume they are going to run out and buy booze. Maybe they will, but you should take the moral high ground and not judge.
- Know that it’s okay to say no. Just please be polite. Panhandling is similar to a sales cold call. You make your pitch, whether it’s verbal, a sign, or a gesture, and you see who is willing to help. Panhandlers know only a small percent will actually contribute.
- Be safe. Some panhandlers are nice and others are more aggressive. If you encounter anyone aggressive, walk away and don’t give them anything.
- Find a local charity that supports helping those who are in need. You can support them financially or choose to get involved.
Whatever You Do, Do It With Love
The greatest we can give is time, so if you choose to get involved with a charity to help, you benefit those in need and yourself.
The issue with panhandlers is that it puts us on the spot. It challenges our moral values. Do you feel nervous about whether or not you should give? That’s normal. Any of us could find ourselves on the street for a bunch of reasons. So many of us live paycheck to paycheck.
If you give, feel good about giving, and don’t judge the person. If you don’t give, then don’t, but be respectful.
That spirit of giving goes a long way. If someone asks for a dollar, and you give them $5, you may be the reason they eat today. If you don’t support giving cash to panhandlers, but you advocate for programs that support ending poverty and hunger, you make a difference that may help a bunch of people. And simple but kind gestures keep us all human.
And you’ll benefit too. Being kind releases endorphins that can boost your happiness.
Next time you see a panhandler, make a choice, be kind, and give something, even if it’s just a kind word.
Now check out the Salvation Army or a local organization near you to see how you can help someone in need today.
