Panhandlers at Truck Stops

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!That's really nice of you.I made a promise to myself after my mom passed that im going to help every elderly that needs it and I do just that.Can't afford to buy their groceries but I help other ways and they really appreciate it.

 

I just say "GET A JOB"

 

I think there are some people that are sincere...but those that aren't far outweigh those that are.

Something similar happened to me a few years back. A guy (mid 40's) outside of a McDonald's hit me up for some money and I told him I'd be glad to buy him some lunch and he said, "Anything would help sir, I usually work at the day labor place up the road but they didn't have anything for me today."

Something inside me just told me this guy was telling the truth, and since it was Thanksgiving week I thought maybe he couldn't get a day labor gig because of the holiday and most factories around there were probably slowing down for the holiday. Anyway, I bought a couple of extra Big Macs, some fries, a drink and an apple pie for him and he was very thankful, polite and kind. He also had a duffel bag full of stuff and I couldn't help but think that maybe that was all he had in the world.

We didn't talk much, but he did tell me he stayed in some woods behind the day labor office. I felt bad for him...so I slid him $20 and I got in my truck to head home to my nice warm house. I rarely give anyone cash, but I made an exception for this guy.

 

when you give without thinking good things happen to & for you..i usually give money & a water(might be room temp) but someone that hasnt eatin or had anything to drink all day appreciate it

 

I was at the Petro off 285 in Atlanta, One came to me asking for .75 he said it was all he needed left to get into the shelter for the night. I was the first truck in the parking lot he got to when he walked in so I gave him the .75 He then walked to the truck right next to me and gave that driver the same story. all I need is .75 to get to the shelter. That fired me right up. I actually got out of the truck and followed him around the entire truck stop just to piss him off. Every truck he walked up to I told the driver I already gave him the .75 so they didn't have to worry about it. It only took 10 minutes and he left.

Think about it though a large truck stop like that one about 200 drivers throughout the truck stop. If 50% of them give him the .75 that's $75 for maybe an hour of work. and that's if they only give him .75 ive seen some people give these guys $5.00 and $10.00 at times

 

I had this guy walk up to me gas can in hand, asking for $5 so he can get back home to Indiana, back when $5 could get you some gas. I said no, I couldn't.

A couple few months go by, I'm at the same place, guess who's walking up to me, gas can in hand? He gives me the whole schpeel again about needing 5 bucks to get him back home to Indiana. I tell him, "you must have the worst luck in world, you asked me the same thing a few months ago." He just smiled and says, "you got me." and walks away.

 

Someone said the most obvious thing to me if someone out of gas how they get to the pump? Also can't stand some one who smokes cigarettes but is broke a pack of Newport is a gallon and a half of gas in va.

 

I'd say 99% of these bums are just allergic to work. A honest person willing to work will have no problems finding help, and that help is not bumming off hard working truckers at a truckstop.

That "lost my billfold and outta gas" line has got to be the most frequent story I hear.

A bum cornered me at the Flying J today in Jackson, MS, asking for money I could "bless" him with.
Told him it's Sunday and you are in the heart of the Bible Belt. Go find any church and offer to work. I guarantee you will find all the help you need. He asked for money again 4 times. I simply repeated the same thing to him 4 times. He said OK and walked out to a trucker parked in the lot to ask for money.

You see; these are bums. They don't want help, they don't want work. They want easy street on their terms.
That's why I don't give money to bums.

 

This is kind of a funny but sad story of a kid I used to encounter all the time begging for money in Chicago...

Years ago, when I was working in the corporate world and living outside of Chicago, I used to take the L train downtown to work everyday. A couple of blocks from the hotel I worked at, this kid (maybe 11 or 12) used to always stop people asking for money. He always told this story about how his parents were in jail, dead or just left him (he always changed the details) and that he needed money to hop a bus to Milwaukee to his aunt or grandmas house. This kid could really pour it on.

One day a coworker and I are out walking and we encounter him and listen to the story...tears flowing...sobbing....the whole bit. When the kid is all done with his story, I slide him $5 and we start walking again. My friend looks at me and says, "Why do give him money? You see him down here all the time and you know all of that is a bunch of malarkey, right?"

I looked at my friend and said, "Are you kidding me? I don't see that kind of performance when I go to the movie theater. It's worth five dollars just to see that kid act...he should win an Oscar award that whole bit."

That kid was a hustler, he'd be in his mid 30's today. He's probably dead or in prison by now...but every time I watch a new movie or TV show, in the back of my mind I always secretly hope to see him in it.