I know times are not good now but

[dwalt]

It seems like there are more panhandlers out there than usual. In the parking lot to the store nearest me there is a guy in a (very nice) truck that drops a woman out with an umbrella and backpack.  She sits with a sign everyday for quite a while and then he comes back and picks her up.  WTH!!

[dwalt]

Really good idea.

[Lifesighs]

I used to give them some change or a dollar until one of the police told me who the pro's were, one in a wheelchair had camo on as if he were an injured veteran, he actually was in an accident as a teen, got a huge insurance settlement lived in a nice home and used his weekly collections to rent a fishing boat on the weekends.

The other reason I don't give anymore is because our community has about 30 programs for the homeless and some are way underused because they don't want to be sheltered, they prefer to be free to drink and drug. There are showers and food available but many like to look unwashed. The real homeless families aren't out on the streets begging, they're in the available shelters trying to solve the problems that got them into the situations. I would prefer to help them. We donate regularly to one in our immediate area.