Have You Ever Helped A Homeless Person?

[ck1]

I asked a guy sitting outside a Tesco store last week if he needed anything, he said a drink, so I sceptically asked him what of, replied Coke, which I was surprised about (would of expected special brew!). I gave him a big bottle of coke, some meat pasties, snickers and a few other bits and he was so grateful. Cost me next to nothing but would of made a huge difference to his weekend. Do you have any similar experiences?

[237SJ]

Some colleagues of mine were in Chicago for New Year`s eve and decided to pool some money to spend on drinks. As it turned out, their hotel decided to offer them a free dinner with wine. They had $100 that they had collected amongst themselves and they didn`t need and decided to give away as a NY gesture. They went outside and gave it to an elderly homeless man who was sleeping in a doorway. They handed it to him and said "Happy New Year" and he burst into tears.

[emmie]

so would i, how awful to be that down and out, especially at that time of the year.

[missmuppet]

Last year when we had that bitterly cold spell I was just on my way back to the car park and walked past a man and his dog still outside a bank (his usual place). I actually don't agree with giving them money, but I popped into a shop nearby and bought him a hot cornish pasty and took it back to him. He was very grateful, which pleased me no end as the damn thing cost me £3.80! I've never spent that much on a Cornish pasty for myself!!!

[coccinelle]

My late husband was part of a humanist group who helped homeless people during the winter. They would drive them to centres to spend the night and have a meal etc. Pets aren't allowed in these centres so many of these homeless people preferred to stay where they were. In fact, these people weren't begging but were in groups at the back of supermarkets or large food shops (often living in large cardboard boxes) where they could scrounge things being thrown out. I sometimes wonder if beggars are really homeless; my husband told me these people who he met were still proud and wouldn't stoop so low as to beg.

[trapcistcarth]

If I am asked and I have it, I give. Then as I hurry away, I wonder, whose son or daughter were they? was he/she an ex soldier?. Have they slipped through the 'Care in the Community' net! Might the same thing happen to my nieces, nephews and friends kids? my friends?. I just give, I know I should do more. Some higher power will judge, not me.

[Baby_Sham]

I always buy The Big Issue, but I don't really tend to offer money or anything to homeless people sat in on the streets. I once gave a homeless guy my lunch, and he gave it back to me saying he didn't like Tuna. It appears beggars CAN be choosers!

I used to volunteer in a homeless shelter and, whilst the majority of the clients were in fact homeless, there were a fair amount who had houses AND JOBS but would come in to socialise and get a free meal, which is a total insult to those who are there because they have to be.

I do always help out in the homeless shelter at Christmas too, and just last year I got my young son to help too which was really nice. It taught him a very valuable lesson!

[Baby_Sham]

Sorry, I was going to add to that, your post made me smile and was one of those moments where your faith in humanity is kind of resorted :-)

[sandyRoe]

I regularly give a little to the homeless charity, Crisis. It used to be called Crisis at Christmas. I'd also give small change to local beggars, but not the foreigners who seen to make a profession of it.

[smurfchops]

If I see a homeless person with a dog I sometimes buy food for the dog but never give money, too tempting for him to buy a can ...