Can you spare a few bucks?
While attending Search Engine Strategies 2009 in Chicago I met a bunch of people. Some colleagues in the field, some random people throughout the city and then there were pan handlers.
Pan Handlers. For those of you who do not know what a Pan Handler is, they are the people who wander around the streets in larger cities asking people for money. Most of these people have crazy stories which you know are lies, some tell the honest truth. Over the past three days, despite the freezing cold and Winter blast ‘09, I had the opportunity to meet more than a few Pan Handlers.
Business Man who was just pick pocketed - He had a pretty good story. He was on his way home from being downtown when some thief picked his pocket, taking his wallet and his phone. He is nicely dressed and clean shaved. He tells you that he was just pick pocketed and he needs money for a taxi to head back home, which interestingly enough cost $20. To add to his already unfortunate story he adds in that he will give you his office’s contact information and will give you back your money on Monday, WITH interest.
Baby Mama’s and the Child Support check that bounced - Randomly walks up to you looking a bit dingy asking for a few bucks to take the bus somewhere and needs to buy food for her baby, all because her Child Support check bounced. Last time I checked, Child Support checks where issued by the state. Now you are telling me that a state check bounced? Likely story. Where is her baby while she is out looking for cash?
Free Newspaper Salesman - This is probably the most popular type of bum. S/he walks up and down the street asking everyone if they want to buy a copy of the free newspaper that is conveniently on the corner of every sheet in a little box that say “Free! Take One!” $0.50 will get you two copies of the same newspaper if you play your cards right. What will happen to these “salesman” when the newspapers stop printing paper copies of their paper?
“I’m gonna shake my cup at you” bum - It’s cold and you are briskly walking down the street on a chilly winter night, you pass by a door way and out pops this guy with a cup shaking at you. Pretty simple, no sad stories about it. This guy is probably really homeless.
And my all time favorite - “Hey fella, would you be willing to donate to the Jack Daniels Research Foundation?” - Honestly, need I say more?
When I first arrived in Chicago I was waiting at the bus stop with some ladies. The ladies were talking about a homeless person who was sitting in the corner of some building curled up trying to keep warm. While conversation was going on a off duty bus operator said he was glad he didn’t have to work the next morning because after cold nights like this one they usually find homeless people dead next to door ways. Honestly, I couldn’t imagine coming into work one morning and finding a frozen homeless person on the doorstep.
Did I hand out any cash? No. I did give some nice older women the leftovers on my bus card. I think there was $1.25 left on the card, which isn’t enough for a bus ride but it is a start. The reason they ask for money for the subway or bus and not for food is because they want a warm place to stay at night.
Jokes aside, homelessness is a real issue. It disappoints me when you see people begging for money and using poor excuses. Each has their own story and reasons for doing what they do and hell we have all heard the stories where fakers stand on the side of the road next to their car pretending to have run out of gas and make thousands of dollars a week from generous passer-byers.
Over the years, I’ve contributed to charities that help the homeless and donated canned food for collections. My family and I are blessed to have food on our tables and warm beds to sleep in at night. Others are without these basic necessities we often take for granted.
Charitable Organizations:
Share Our Strength
United Way
Good Will
Toys for Tots
Cherry Street Mission - Toledo Ohio based
One Response to “Can you spare a few bucks?”
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James,
You always have the most clever things to share. I mean, how often do people really, and I mean really think about those they pass by on the street. We are so quick to judge in this day and age, but those that are less fortunate are lucky to have people like you and I in their lives. I know you give back to the community, and I do as well. Other charitable organizations that I donate to on a regular basis would be the salvation army as well as the feed your neighbor program. If everyone was able to give just a little of what they have, there would probably be less pan handlers, as you like to call them, sitting on the streets or riding the buses around in search of someone willing to give.
-Megan