TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE, THAT IS THE QUESTION

HOW TO DEAL WITH PANHANDLERS:
We have all been there, done that? We truly feel compassion for the beggars that we see. We see the news reports about scammers making $300 a day panhandling. We know that some panhandlers want money for drugs or alcohol. We are in a quandry. We do not want to be victims of a con and give our hard earned money to a scoundrel. We do not want to enable alcoholics or druggies to feed their habit. Yet we want to help the needy.

This article gives tips and advice on what to do.

One thing we can do to help feed the hungry is add a non-perishable food item to the boxes for that purpose at grocery store chains. These usually go to food banks.

We can carry small baggies in our cars, purses or brief cases in which we put single serving cans of food with pop-top lids (little pull tab openers like on soda cans-most homeless do not have can openers). If it is needed to consume the food, add plastic spoon or fork. Vienna sausages, tins of fruit, small packs of cookies or donuts, any small items you think of. Instead of money, give a baggie. My eldest daughter and friends used to do this, too.

Before digging and construction began on Sims Bayou, there was a community of homeless that lived under the bridges by Bellfort. Several of them had staked out territories at certain red lights and intersections that were deemed choice spots to panhandle. Drivers who passed on a regular basis became familiar with them and would hold out money or bags of food when they were caught at a red light. Sometimes we would observe turf wars when newcomers or rivals attempted to encroach on another's territory.

A favorite of mine and the Wild Child was an elderly man in a wheel chair. He was a grouchy old cuss, snarled "thank you" in a tone that sounded anything but thankful if he acknowledged you at all, and yet we liked him. His spot was on the esplanade at a red light. Since we always had to make a left turn at that intersection, we would be halted next to him at the red light. One day he was peering into a brown paper bag and loudly complaining about the *bleeping-bleeps* that would give a man all those canned goods without a *bleeping* can opener. In spite of our compassion for the poor man's plight - it's terrible to be hungry and have no way to open cans of food - his wrath struck us as funny and we laughed like fools. Wild Child wanted to go back to my apartment and bring him a can opener. I am sure that the good hearted person who gave him the goods never thought about his lack of an opener and would have been insulted had his comments been heard. It was a potent reminder to us to always give pop top cans or include a can opener.

Most of us have regular routes we travel on errands or jobs. Another favorite of mine and the Wild Child was a heavy set man of indeterminate age that sat on a 5 gal bucket at an underpass intersection where we always turned. He never accosted drivers who stopped there, but if items or money was held out, he would hoist himself to his feet and walk painfully to collect it. Sometimes he had a scruffy little dog at his feet, so Wild Child began putting a baggie of dry dog food in her goodie bag. The man never spoke to us, but the next time we passed his way he held the dog up, as if letting the dog thank us. He came to recognize us and if we caught the green light and couldn't stop, he'd hold up his hand in acknowledgement.

Sure, it is true that some panhandlers are con men and some are chemically dependent. Don't let that curdle your milk of human kindness; it is impossible for us to accurately judge who is truly needy and who do not. If you feel that you want to give, go ahead. A few pieces of change or a dollar isn't much to sacrifice. If you are hesitant, don't. Follow your own conscience. But don't feel guilty.

People say, why don't they go get a job? When you are homeless, no way to maintain a decent wardrobe - even if you manage to keep thieves from stealing your possessions- to maintain good hygeine , it is hard to present yourself in a good light to a prospective employer. There are no washing machines or showers under a bridge or in a park. With no money it is impossible to take public transportation to job hunt. Many homeless have mental health issues are are too unstable to hold a job. Some have been down so long their self esteem and will to try has been beaten into the dirt; they feel hopeless.

Many of the long term homeless are veterans from Vietnam and other conflicts, suffering from PTSD and other mental anguish. Now we are getting a new crop of homeless vets. Some of them also suffer mental and emotional wounds, and some simply cannot find a job and end up on the street, which is a disgrace.

IT IS A NATIONAL DISGRACE!!

The Hard Facts: There are about 500,000 homeless veterans, about 1/3 of the homeless populations . Many suffer mental health issues like PTSD; many ended up homeless because they couldn't get a job.

Homeless Heroes: Veteran unemployment rate higher than rate for non-veterans .

So that disreputable looking panhandler just may be a troubled veteran.