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Jen Zug's avatar

Generally I give to panhandlers if they are outside of a grocery store or something, because I can get cash back on my purchase. Otherwise I don’t carry cash. I am also cautions about the woman/child scenarios because those women are often part of a trafficking situation (can often spot a man standing far off somewhere, observing).

I didn’t used to give to panhandlers, with the justification that I gave to homelessness charities. But as I’ve learned more about poverty and equity issues, lack of shelter beds, trauma, etc, I have more empathy now for folks who choose to not engage the system.

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Katharine Strange's avatar

it's so complicated, right? We just don't have adequate shelter for everyone. Thanks for sharing your perspective, Jen.

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Holly Starley's avatar

A lovely contemplation, my friend. I do give to panhandlers and don’t worry about what they’ll do with it. I figure a gift isn’t a gift if it isn’t the recipient’s to do with as they will once it’s in their hands.

I like this concept of not allowing an impulse for generosity to go by. And I think that’s maybe, though I wouldn’t have put it in those words exactly, what I live by or, more accurately, strive to live by.

Thanks for the opportunity to contemplate .

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Katharine Strange's avatar

That's a great point about gift giving, and one not followed nearly enough!

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Liz Cooledge Jenkins's avatar

Appreciate you naming the complexity of these things - and also affirming that giving is not nothing.

I find myself thinking about the saying "never resist a generous impulse" and wondering if perhaps some people have more generous impulses than others, and what that means. Maybe some people are able to act on every generous impulse (I guess we're also assuming we have the resources to act), while others would be totally overwhelmed because the impulses are so many...

I also worry about the "impulse" aspect of it, since our impulses are influenced by so many subconscious things. I'm thinking of the snap judgments we might make about someone's "worthiness" to receive...seems complicated. I guess I hope we're examining our impulses (and lack thereof) even as we're seeking to be generous.

Thanks for writing and getting us thinking :)

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Katharine Strange's avatar

It's true that sometimes our impulses can be overwhelming and biased. It can be easier to have a blanket rule, but maybe this ignores the complexity of the situations we face? Obvious, I still don't have this figured out, but it's good to be mindful of who we find to be the "worthy poor."

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Stephanie Alter Jones's avatar

I decided some time ago that the act of giving was challenging enough for me, that if I had it (cash, mostly) when asked, I should give. I haven't always been consistent in practice, and frankly I have cash less and less (yay to Real Change and their QR code payment system), but it does do something to my brain to just let go the analysis and respond out of the privilege of my capacity.

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Katharine Strange's avatar

It's true, it seems easier to make a calculation ahead of time instead of on a case-by-case basis.

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Vashti Bilquis's avatar

Life must be really difficult if asking for money on the street is someone’s reality, so whether it’s spent to get some temporary relief from their situation (drugs) or on food is irrelevant to me. That $5, $10, or $20 isn’t changing their life circumstances. What’s done with the money is none of my business because it’s no longer mine.

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Katharine Strange's avatar

I like the compassion of this approach.

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