Would you stop homeless people from going through your garbage/recycling?
- Thread starter StephyMei1112
- Start date
They don't go through my trash, that would get me mad. They just go into the recycling bins and take the bottles you can cash in. I am seeing more and more homeless in the surrounding towns, and it makes me so sad. They stand with signs next to the traffic lights
so they are right at your window when the light is red. A lot of times I do reach out the window and give them a few bucks. I have been told by people I am a sucker, but ya know what, I don't care, it makes both of us feel a tad better.
so they are right at your window when the light is red. A lot of times I do reach out the window and give them a few bucks. I have been told by people I am a sucker, but ya know what, I don't care, it makes both of us feel a tad better.
M
I will always, always give something. Call me a sucker if you want. And yeah, maybe you're even right 9/10 times. It's that 1/10 that keeps me doing it. I came pretty close to being where they are, and it's not fun. And I had a guy burst into tears once because I gave him five bucks. Was it acting for the benefit of the car behind me? Maybe. Who knows. But if it wasn't? If he's to the point where five dollars brings him to tears? Yeah, I'm always going to give something whether it's money, food, or a cold bottle of water. Whatever I've got, I can share.
I live in the suburbs, and I've never seen a homeless person near my neighborhood. I don't think I'd mind someone going through our trash/recyclables as long as the bins were on the street and they put everything back into the bins without a mess.
If I see a homeless person at a stop light (which to be honest, it's been MONTHS since I've seen one!), I'll give a dollar or two if I have cash on me. I've seen homeless people outside of Subway/Chick-fil-a/random fast food restaurants, and I've asked if they've wanted a meal before- that's always what I prefer doing over cash.
Like Jess said, even if you're a sucker 9/10 times, it's that 1/10 times that matters. $1 or $5 isn't anything for me, but it can be the difference between someone eating or going starving.
If I see a homeless person at a stop light (which to be honest, it's been MONTHS since I've seen one!), I'll give a dollar or two if I have cash on me. I've seen homeless people outside of Subway/Chick-fil-a/random fast food restaurants, and I've asked if they've wanted a meal before- that's always what I prefer doing over cash.
Like Jess said, even if you're a sucker 9/10 times, it's that 1/10 times that matters. $1 or $5 isn't anything for me, but it can be the difference between someone eating or going starving.
There are phony begging rings all over the place around here. They have shift changes and everything. Because of that I almost never give money to beggars anymore. I give items instead - hats or mittens in the winter, food, clothes, water bottles, whatever I have with me in the car that might conceivably be useful and I can do without. I've seen people bite into a sandwich like they've never seen food before, and I've seen people who look at a sandwich like "WTF am I supposed to do with THIS?" Sadly, the latter is far, far more common than the former.
ETA: IME around here, most of the really down and out homeless don't really beg that much, anyway. They scavenge, but they don't actively beg.
ETA: IME around here, most of the really down and out homeless don't really beg that much, anyway. They scavenge, but they don't actively beg.
K
A wonderful idea I saw implemented in a small town several years ago was kind of a charity exchange. There was a social service office with a big front porch. People could drop off clothes, kitchen supplies, appliances, furniture, knick knacks, toys, boxed or bagged.
I knew people who set up whole apartments with goodies they found. Plus you could go through the kids clothes, garage and everything a few times a year and drop it off, and maybe find a whole new bag of kids clothes. I found a leaf bag of Boyd Bears there one day, whoopeeeee it was like treasure hunting.
Then it was open for anyone to sort through and take what they needed. Eventually it was closed due to human laziness. People would root through things and just leave stuff in heaps and scattered in bushes. Sad that a few dumb people had to wreck a perfectly wonderful idea.
I knew people who set up whole apartments with goodies they found. Plus you could go through the kids clothes, garage and everything a few times a year and drop it off, and maybe find a whole new bag of kids clothes. I found a leaf bag of Boyd Bears there one day, whoopeeeee it was like treasure hunting.
Then it was open for anyone to sort through and take what they needed. Eventually it was closed due to human laziness. People would root through things and just leave stuff in heaps and scattered in bushes. Sad that a few dumb people had to wreck a perfectly wonderful idea.
That's how it is at my grandma's house. We're always hauling big items over to her house to throw out, because we have to pay our garbage collector to take them, but they will take anything where she is.... but anyway, oftentimes if we bring something over and set it on the alley, someone else comes and takes it before the garbage truck ever comes. People just go up and down grabbing whatever is left out.
But, our trash bin sits on our driveway.... so, no, I wouldn't want people hanging out there digging through it. If I were to set an end table out there though and put a free sign on it, you're more than welcome to take that lol.
But, our trash bin sits on our driveway.... so, no, I wouldn't want people hanging out there digging through it. If I were to set an end table out there though and put a free sign on it, you're more than welcome to take that lol.
I don't give cash, I give food. Cash can be used for too many unnecessary things, and, well, most with a sign here aren't really homeless, they just want drug money. (and yes, I've seen some of the regulars go into their house after, or come into my work trying to buy beer) When we worked at a lunch cafeteria, we had this homeless guy not far that we'd give him lunch and dinner for himself and his dog.