Panhandlers at Truck Stops

I was at the Pilot in Birmingham when a guy walked up and told me he'd just walked out of a fight with his girlfriend to keep from knocking her senseless, and he'd really like to have a beer right about now.

I handed him $5.

When I was walking back to my truck after my shower, I saw him leaning against the fence in the shadows. He raised his beer to me and nodded. I nodded back and went to my truck.

Don't lie to me, and you just might get what you're needing.

 

About 10 years ago I finally gave in to a panhandler in Huntington, West Virginia. Old man walks up to truck, unshaven, dirty and hunching over, and says " Sir, I'm not gonna lie to you, I'm a dollar short for a six-pak. Can you help me out?". I gave the old man $5, and thanked him for his honesty. I have told that story many, many times! It was worth the Five bucks. I still laugh about that.

 

That...I respect.

 

I, like most of you all NEVER give cash to a transient type. They probably would use it for booze or drugs. I WILL, however offer them food sometimes. Nothing expensive just basic food. I saw a guy today outside the TS with a sign said "going East" he looked pretty rough. I went and bought him a package of boiled eggs for $2.00. I could tell he was hungry. It feels good to do that sometimes.

 

As a rule I never give cash to anyone, there are plenty of organizations out there that will help someone in need. The problem is most of the panhandlers refuse to accept any help or they up to something else or on the run from the law. We have all heard the same old sob stories from the same group of people and yes it get old fast. One of the best I heard wan Oklahoma City when a women in her mid-20's knocked on the door and gave me the story on her husband leaving her, kids in the hotel room all hungry...blah,blah,blah..... I offered to have her and the kids meet me in the restaurant and I would make sure they had a good meal. Nope she wanted $$$$ I told here to move on... 5 min later and two trucks down another driver let her in the truck and we all know what went on from there.

 

If I feed a stray cat I'm part of the problem. Same as the beggars. If I give money to an addict, I'm assisting him in all the harm he is doing to himself and those those around him. If I give money to a professional beggar, guess what... he probably earns more than the average driver and gets to sleep in his own bed every night.

A donation to a soup kitchen or shelter might actually do some good. They will make sure the money is used to help someone get back on their feet, rather than being shot up or drank.

I respect the giving spirit of those that do give out a few bucks to these guys - I just think their good intentions are misguided.

 

come on bergie.that stray cat or dog can't help being a stray.i'll feed an animal almost every time i encounter one.i care not for the beggars for i consider them as you do-professional beggars.

 

We have a undocumented person who brings his family which are undocumented to the local wal mart to ask for money they pass 5 food banks and welfare office to get there.

 

"Undocumented person"???
Nice job of staying P.C.!!!

A long time ago we, as legal U.S. citizens were allowed to call those people illegal aliens...
No more though.

 

Darn straight! Try playing that "undocumented" card in Mexico or any other country and see what happens. Jail and deportation happens. Wanna just retire to Mexico? You can't buy land, just lease. Must have income, no handouts. Wanna fly your big American flag in your yard above all other flags? Nope, they will arrest you for disrespecting Mexican sovereignty.

We need to wise up and keep bums out. We have too many as is. Too bad our government doesn't help these bums find their way across the border into Mexico, like Mexico does to help them cross to us.