Do you support the "needy" on the Strip?

Now don't be upset with me for putting the word needy in quotes. I'm sure that some of them really are needy but I often wonder how many of them are just out there to see what they can get.

I think I got swindled last year when I saw this guy and his dog....I felt bad for the dog so I gave him a measly $3 and said "Use this to feed your dog"...then later that day I thought back on it and thought to myself that guy and his dog looked pretty good for being "homeless". Now, there was this one lady who had this little wiener dog that was all wrapped up in a blanket looking sad....as I passed them I almost cried. I didn't give her any money and I felt terrible about it. That's why I gave the next guy with the dog some money.

Do you feel compelled to give them a few bucks? There are so many more of them now than there used to be. Do you agree?

 

For me it depends on what I'm seeing.I'm sure some people begging for help don't really need it as much as others do.I'm more likely to walk past the guy who's clothes and body are clean (too clean and new) holding the sign saying " I'll be honest! Need money for beer".
When I see someone who's tanner than the tan mom....dirty,quiet,no sign,crawling into the bushes...I will usually give something.I don't normally give money...I will try to give food and water or free crap I get from casinos like t-shirts ect.

It really tugs on my heart strings to see someone in need. Especially while I'm on vacation living it up.

 

No.

Hard to know how much to do it at home, where I'm vested, given the prevalence of people both feigning and having a real need. Vacation doesn't enter the equation.

I was at the UPS Store yesterday. Young couple was mailing off what turned out to be some paperwork for the guy's new job. With copies and whatever it was 9 and change. Their debit or CC maxed out at 91 cents. She left to go to the bank, I guess. I slipped the guy ten, said we've all been there at some point. His eyes told me it wasn't going into three pints of malt liquor. I finished my business as she came back, he came over, tried to hand me the bill. We chatted a bit. That answered my question. I said maybe it would get them a spot of lunch.

You gotta go with your hunch.

 

I give to the people in my home state as well. I will be honest and say I don't see as many as I do in Vegas.Might just be my town...Madison Wis. I just can't be ok walking away when I have so much more than some! I'm not a High Roller of any kind... I spend 6 nights in Vegas a year...may gamble 300 hundred in my time there....But I do know I'm here on vacation...and can spend 10 or 20 dollars to feed a man/woman and their pet. I'm all about karma... Do the right thing and get some karma..No...not expecting a big win...just need to help my fellow humans who need the help.

If I was ever that down...I really hope someone would toss me a bone.

 

To answer the question: No.

I do support organizations who help the needy. If these people really need help they can go to these organizations.

But these organizations will require these needy people to make an effort to improve themselves and will help them get back on their feet.

Sadly many of these "needy" people do not want to improve themselves.

So they end up at places like the Strip and Downtown asking for our "help".

 

I once saw a lady with a cat and felt bad for both of them so I gave her a few bucks. But not sure if I would have given anything if she didn't have a cat. Not sure if this makes me a bad person or not. But usually I don't give them money. Once and awhile I will buy water from some of them that are selling it.

 

Ok, you guys do realize that these panhandlers are going to use money to get drugs or alcohol, right? Why would you ever enable people to engage in self destructive habits? I contribute to a number of local charities that assist the poor by providing hot meals and a place to stay at night. Nashville is known as a "homeless friendly" town so there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer and or contribute money. My company does a couple of HUGE service projects around the homeless here each year. And yet, we have more bums begging for $$ than ever before. The reason is simple: the aid organizations are not providing the drugs and alcohol that they want/need so they still have to beg. On most trips, I get a doggy bag and give my leftovers to a poor person at least once. Or will buy some extra Cimmon rolls or the like and give them away. But giving them money just feeds their addiction and does NOT help them. I assumed everyone was aware of that fact...

 

There's an old joke about two guys in Vegas for a conference headed-out for a night in Sin City and walking downtown. A homeless guy approaches and asks for money and one guy gives him $5. The other guy immediately starts chastising his friend and say's, "Jesus Bob, you know he's only gonna use that for drugs and alcohol!!!" and without missing a beat Bob looks at his friend and replies, "Relax, what the hell you think we're gonna use it for?"

My point is...I try not to judge, but absolutely do agree that's where a lot of the handouts go. I'm not big on handing out money, but occasionally find myself turning around, when I've politely declined and the person says something to the effect of, "God bless you anyways" or something like that. Many times they say something under their breath or just immediately work on the next passer by, but I'm a sucker for politeness and that usually gets me.

 

I do feel compelled to give.

Some things really get to me. Dogs, not at all, but young girls do, because I have a daughter. I saw one on the Flamingo road overpass last trip, sitting there, hugging her knees, not even looking at the people walking past. I can still see the misery in her eyes. People that look like addicts, too. I could see myself there. Those would be my emotional triggers.

I don't feel compelled to give to people with signs. It feels calculated to me, like the smiley on the back of your bill at a restaurant. Probably the best way to get me, though, is to start talking to me. A little "Hey, where are you from?" and five minutes talking about the weather as a prelude to asking for a meal is a sure bet. I rather think I give more, if I don't hear a sad story.

I've been scammed before, locally. I've seen a few guys, always in the same places, always looking for money to buy gas to get home, or go see their deceased relative. These guys look at it as a job, and I'm sure I've donated to the same sort in Vegas. Even with people that really "need" the money, though, are you helping by enabling addictions or supporting someone who really needs mental health treatment they won't seek if they can support themselves otherwise? In an ideal world, the scammers are unsuccessful, and turn to gainful employ, the girl on the overpass buys a bus ticket back home, the guy talking about the weather buys a gallon of milk for his kids, and the addict has enough to see himself through the night before going for counselling the next day.

Of course, that is not always, and is maybe not even often, the case. I put the blinders on, though, and hope I do good, or at least not harm, giving money on the street. If I helped one person out, though, that really needed it, I'd be content having been taken by the rest.

 

No. I am so weary of people from legitimate organizations shoving cans in my face or trying to sell stuff on the street or in front of the grocery store that I don't hand out money on the street to pretty much anyone these days.

 

Isn't this what VMB is all about? :evillaugh

 

Touche!

 

I give cash, drinks, and left overs. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't...

B

 

Most hardworking,decent, people who get thrown into these situations

Will claw and scratch ,often with a little help, out of these situations .Case in point are a lot of Sandy victims who lost everything .The road has been really tough for these folks,FEMA,insurance companys what a nightmare.These people havent given up and are doing everything to help themselves and often their neighbors. Some small blue-collar towns nobody ever heard of have been literally washed off the map. But these people dont sit on their butts all day begging,life knocks them down,they get up again.

 

If I have some spare change, I'll sometimes give it. There are people collecting for the homeless, but who knows where the money is going to? I just didn't feel like having all this change going through airport security. I hope it made a difference to someone.

 

I dont give anything, but I did hand a drooling bum an extra cheeseburger I couldnt eat, he was real happy and scrambled off to eat it. He wasnt begging though, just looked really bad, would never hand a dime to anyone actually begging.

 

DH is the kind soul at our house. He likes to walk the strip around 6 am each day for exercise (I get another blissful hour or two of sleep). We have LOTS of food comps at Casino Royale. So, he always gets 4 Subway bkfst sandwiches from our food comps and passes them out to four folks on the strip.

 

Somedays I will, somedays I don't

 

No, I do not at all. I do donate to homeless charities though.

We have had a guy with a sign at one of our busy intersections here in town and he's been doing this for a few years. Last week while at the gas station there was a women on the other side doing the same thing. While I was paying for my gas, I mentioned to the attendant about the women and he said it was the wife of the guy. I guess it's a family business.

 

I'll give my change to the Salvation Army if they're out on the Strip, if not then I give it to that organization with the white buckets.