Sad or Scam?

Courtesy of Pixabay

You have seen the sad sight of someone on the off-ramps of I-30 or near the exits of local shopping areas asking for money with cardboard signs because they are homeless or down on their luck.

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository

Should you give them money?

Courtesy of Pixabay

They look sad.  You feel guilty.  Maybe you just bought a bunch of stuff you don’t need…and see someone with nothing asking for your help.  Of course, your heart is touched.  You want to do what is right.

But that’s just it.  Are you really helping if you give some stranger on the side of the road money?  Are you helping or hurting this person?  And are they really what they seem to be?

Courtesy of Pixabay

Don’t get me wrong.  I’ve been homeless before.  When I was in my 20s I was homeless in Atlanta, GA. and lived in the basement of a church.  So I’m not heartless.

I just wonder “IF” giving a handout to these people that show up near I-30 and shopping areas is really what we should do?  I personally would rather give my money to a local organization that I know really is helping the poor and homeless.  What about you?  What do you think?  What do you do?  I’d like to know if you have had interaction with these folks on the sides of our roads.  Do you think it’s a Scam or not?

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