Reality compassion check: when was the last time you personally fed a hungry homeless person?

He’s sitting on the couch playing Wii with my son, right now.

Chicken soup today.

I have given money but not food, they always want cash.

I offered to feed a man today, if he would roll up my garden hose and sweep my 4×6 ft stoop. He didn’t have the time to do that, so I couldn’t find the time to cook him anything.

It’s been awhile. There are no homeless close to where I live.

Last time was many years ago. I gave some leftovers to a homeless woman in Chicago. I’ve also gave change to a few street kids in Toronto.

I don’t even cook for myself. But yesterday I walked up to pay rent and gave a dude that was panhandling a buck fifty.

He could have bought a burger or a beer. I don’t really care.

I give money to people on the street. I would not presume to choose what they should eat, let them make that decision. And better that I help prepare food at Glide Memorial in San Francisco (I have) than to limit what I can do by cooking something for a small number of people.

And don’t compare your idea of compassion as being more real or more compassionate than someone else’s idea. That shows a lack of compassion and a lot of judgment.

@KNOWITALL I have given money but not food, they always want cash.
By your compassion you could be one of the larges defacto dope customers around. You can’t buy meth with a ham sandwich. FYI

@WestRiverrat I would have been right there as well. There are times I could have fed some homeless person but I know them, and they get government money or a pension but rather buy alcohol, drugs, Scratchers, or prostitutes (sometimes more than one of those in combination) than buy food. I pass up on them and give it to those I know have no money to play their vices with but are truly hungry.

So, @Hypocrisy_Central you are the all knowing that knows that money will be spent on drugs or booze or prostitutes. How nice of you to know that homeless people will just waste that money and won’t eat, and won’t use it for a roof over their head for the night.

When I give money to someone who will most likely use it on alcohol, I say a silent prayer, if this is used for booze, may it be the drink that helps them hit bottom and get sober.

I never give anyone cash. There are too many able bodied people out there now that find it easier to make a living panhandling than to go to work. If they are truly needy they will take in kind help.

I try to follow my dad’s example.
He never turned anyone away wanting. If they were hungry he invited them to sit at the table with us when we ate. If they needed gas or car repairs, he would call the service station and put gas in their tank or foot the repair bills. If they needed clothes he would call the local store and buy them. But they never walked away with a penny more than they came with.

For us, charity begins at home. My husband is the only fully employed person in our extended family which includes five people in my house and six people in our rental home and his elderly mother in a retirement home. We pay all the expenses their part-time jobs and government benefits don’t cover.

I believe that it is more charitable to help support public services for the homeless than provide a single meal once in awhile for an individual person.

I do not have homeless people close enough to me for me to cook them anything, but I have purchased food for them before. I usually just give them money.

@HC Don’t you think that TORTURES me? When a dog or child is there I can’t let my fear paralyze my heart.

I gave some street kids samosas that I had just purchased from a corner store, about a month ago. They hadn’t eaten all day.

@zenvelo So, @Hypocrisy_Central you are the all knowing that knows that money will be spent on drugs or booze or prostitutes. How nice of you to know that homeless people will just waste that money and won’t eat, and won’t use it for a roof over their head for the night.
Why would I expect anything other than the response you gave?

Did you miss the part about ”I know them”? I know who gets a pension, SSI, welfare, etc. and who collects cans and bottles for their smokes etc. I know where they camp out or sleep for the night. If you see a person 8 out of 10 times they get any money outside of their check which is gone in 72 hours and not because of a fancy restaurant; plus seeing them high as a kite, it doesn’t take rocket science to put 2 and 2 together. When most of the time they are saying they wish they had money so they can get this and that and get high, the odds go up.

There are times I have gave them a burger, pasties, sandwiches, what I had to spare or could buy. You gave, made or bought them what? I did not hear that in your response. What did you do for them?

@KNOWITALL @HC Don’t you think that TORTURES me? When a dog or child is there I can’t let my fear paralyze my heart.
Tip, to still help them if they really want the help, and not be a mark having your charity made merchandise of, when one of them ask for help, inquire what the need is. Tell them you will take them to it or get it and return with it, it isn’t like they have no need to trust you, you are helping them. Ask them where you can meet them, most don’t have cars so their travel range is not far, and they are not going to be in the ritzy areas unless they are panhandling because they don’t fit in. Dirty pajama pants in an area of Armani suits and Prada dresses just don’t work. If they do not want to wait or meet up with you in 30 minutes at a specified place, chances are they don’t need the help as much as they say. They do know a dog or a child is a foot-in-the-door, to at least get you to stop and not ignore them.

Never. I don’t encounter homeless people that often. I’d have to actively seek them out, but I haven’t.

@YARNLADY “I believe that it is more charitable to help support public services for the homeless than provide a single meal once in awhile for an individual person.”

I prefer to do both.

@HC Why not trust my fellow men? I don’t ask my friend what they use a loan for, it’s so rude. We can’t judge!

Has anyone participated yet? I have!!

I volunteer a few days a year at a homeless shelter. We serve food to the homeless overnight guests and to some homeless people who just stop by to grab a meal.

@KNOWITALL @HC Why not trust my fellow men? I don’t ask my friend what they use a loan for, it’s so rude. We can’t judge!
Because I know what they are going to do with the money and chose not to participate or acquiesce and support it I am judging? If I were in your neighborhood and I had a history of abusing my dogs, if you had puppies are you going to just give me one and HOPE I did not abuse it, kick it, starve it, etc? Even if I didn’t ask but you heard I was seeking a new puppy, are you going to just hand one of yours over to me? I think not. I would not tell you to assume, but if you know them, or they are un-accepting of any help less a specific one; cash money, I say you may not be helping them as you believe you are. It is your money, you can give it to them an pray they use it wisely but if you learned you were helping them feed a habit, I hope you don’t blame them because they bamboozled you or feel bad because you funded their addiction.

@bkcunningham Has anyone participated yet? I have!!
That was a beautiful video, heart lifting. I have even when I didn’t know I was. Had I never heard of it from you, I would still be participating.

I contribute to homeless and homeless animal groups monthly.

I DO NOT cook. Better for them I don’t.

@Hypocrisy_Central Different strokes for different folks I guess.

Last time I did actual cooking was at Christmastime in high school. My (Jewish) family had a tradition of volunteering on Christmas; we figured it’s extra helpful to make ourselves available to help those days. Haven’t done it since I moved out, though. But I really oughta hop back on that this year for Thanksgiving or something.

Last time I gave away food was about a year or so ago. I used to work in a medical office and about once a week drug reps would throw us lunches. I would take the untouched portions of the leftovers – usually wrapped sandwiches – and give them away on my walk home from Rockefeller Center down to Herald Square. It was always a bit horrifying to me that I was the only person who ever thought to do that – and we’re talking a significant amount of food, sometimes more than I could easily carry. Now that I’m not working there it probably all goes in the trash. I bet all the medical offices in Manhattan could feed the homeless at least one meal a day if they just made a little effort.

I always give people money when they ask for it. I figure if they have to ask, they need it. I don’t cook for anyone. I have a little storefront that I use for workspace, though, and when guys offer to help me carry stuff in and out of it, I offer to pay them. Sometimes they won’t take money. Sometimes in winter someone living on the street will ask if they can sleep in there. No.

@wildpotato: Good on ya. The amount of usable food that is thrown away in the U.S. is a stain on the country, in my opinion. I try to rescue stuff from department lunches as well.

I pay a lot of taxes every month and I like doing it, because I can afford it and I trust our elected representatives and government. I have everything I need. I’m glad that the money can be used to help people who need it. No one needs to be hungry. There are a few cases of homeless people who are too ashamed to seek any help, even though they are entitled to it.

My 13-year-old asked me if we could volunteer to spend our Thanksgiving serving dinner at a homeless shelter.

I’ve done that before, and I am all about random acts of kindness. As far as panhandlers, I tend to go with my gut feeling at the time, along with the state of my wallet.

Does myself count? ... Then last October.