Okay, so, on the way to work this morning I saw a man who appeared to be homeless standing on the corner right by my office.
It is starting to get chilly out now (about 50 F here this morning), so that got me thinking.
I guess the whole PIF thing really got me to count my blessings, and see the world a little differently.
I am sure that many of us see homeless people every so often, and although we may feel for them, we probably don't give it much thought.
Well, for some reason this morning it really hit me.
I didn't have any cash on me , and I needed to get to work. I figure the least I could do was to brew some coffee real quick and take him a cup.
By the time I got there, he was gone.
Now, the point of this story is just that maybe we can try to change things a little bit in this world.
Granted, that coffee certainly wouldn't have changed this mans life, or his situation, but I am sure it would have made a small difference if even for just a short while.
Now, I am not totally naive, and i know there are scammers out there who make more money begging than I do working, but there are real issues.
I can honestly say that in the past I have visited several food banks, and it was only by God'* grace that I have never been homeless myself.
Now, I am not going to preach, but they are definitely Christian principles and what not about helping the loss fortunate, and I like to think, Christian or not, most of us here have at least enough moral character to care about our fellow humans.
I am not saying we should all go out and empty our wallets to the first homeless person we see, but maybe we can start with they way we think.
Most mornings I would have just seen this man and not really given it any thought.
But, it really hit me this morning, and I figured maybe if I shared, I might inspire one good deed somewhere, and that may inspire more, and so on, in the true PIF fashion.
Okay, I'll step down off my soap box now, and you are free to feel how you will, but I hope that at least me pointing this out will make a small difference to at least one person, and that is more than worth my 10 minutes to type this.
.

God bless you my friend. I truly believe that if everyone did the very thing you tried to do this morning, they would at least put a smile on someones face. Money is sometimes not the answer. A warm cup of coffee or a friendly hello can make a big difference.

I usually hand out change to those on the street corner (or some who walk by my house ). I myself can do without $1.00 worth of change, so I don't mind in most cases. When I was in college there were plenty of these people asking for change, and it was OBVIOUS who the scammers were. I avoided them as much as possible.

But I know the feeling you're talking about. Once in a while I will be in my car and there'* a guy on the corner. Sometimes I know I have change that I could give him but I don't do it. But other times it "hits me," do I really need this .50¢?

One guy walked by my house last weekend and asked for .50¢ while I was washing my car. I went into the coin holder in the car and handed him a handful of quarters. I could tell he could use it. Would those coins change his life? Most likely not, but I'm sure the way his life is going it was a good feeling to get a couple bucks.

If you really think about it, you realize how well we have it compared to others in the world, or our own cities and towns in the US.

Thats very good thinking there to give him something warm.

But i will NEVER give them money, there is to many that will just spend the Money on Booze or Drugs... happens all the time around here in the city.

In the Toronto area we see a few of them, more then we wish too, unfortunately I see to many scammers of which I don't really need to tell any stories about. I had a story I was about to post but deleted it and in its place I'll just say that I hope they are all safe and comfortable.

That was a very nice gesture, even though he was gone when you went back. I'm sure he would have been very greatful for a warm cup of coffee.

Yeah, I know it is hard to deal with giving money, because who knows what they'll do with it, or if they even really need it.
But, thee are definitely those out there who really need everything they can get.
Like I said, I consider it a miracle I never reached that point.
I really was just hoping to soften some hearts and get some people to think a little bit.
Very reassuring to see that I am not the only one.
That is this Clubs greatest strength, it'* willingness to help others, not just mechanically or what not, but in any way possible.

You are good people and I do believe in karma,I am a good judge at weeding out scammers but if I have it I help as I was there myself at one time when I left home at 14 and was pretty much homeless ( besides a friends house now and again ) for almost 2 years before I started working at the stockyards.


Trust me a majority of the people out there would rather spit on you than help,even with a hot cup of joe on a cold morning,there many a winter mornings I wish I had one ...

I'm with you, Badnit. If possible, I'd rather not help send a person to their death by supporting a drug or alcohol problem with cash. My wife has gone to McDonalds then driven back and handed food to panhandlers instead of the $$ they wanted. Some have actually turned her down.

As for whether or not panhandling is a person'* career, I guess it'* not my place to judge. If I can afford it, who am I to say this person doesn't need it? Unless I saw him park his Lexus around the corner...

I just saw something on TV the other night about people out panhandling, and then the guy went and got into his Eddie Bauer Expedition, or something like that
It'* a shame the world has come to that.
I like your wife'* way of dealing with this situation.
Like I said, I was just hoping to inspire some to think twice about helping someone who truly is in need.