How to handle a panhandler

[aunt betty]

Living in the city I see them from time to time. They sit on the street with "help" signs and some are brazen enough to approach Mr. Salty aka me.
They use several approaches but it always involves helping their family, not them directly.

There are several versions of the "family in the car" scenario.
They'll say "was on the way to church in Danville (33 miles east) and broke down. Can you spare...MONEY???
Another version is "ran out of gas" same story.

For that one you ask "where?". I'll get my tools and a gas can. Boom...the story is crushed.

Another one is "famly needs food".
Again..."where?". Tonight a dude was begging and he sounded pathetic. Yellow crooked teeth. Looked awful.
I asked him where. Offered to order two pizzas and pop and have it delivered to his house. (dude had just watched me buy ice cream with cash). He was stunned and stood there a full 10 seconds thinking.
"You mean you want my address?!?!?".
Yeah.
"Uhhhhh, it's in Champaign somewhere".
"Dude if you can't remember your own address I can't help you".
Slam Burn OW. HEHE
Was at Jarling's Custard Cup. People sitting eating their ice cream overheard. They laughed.
I hollered out the window "someone try to buy him some food". Then laughed and took off.

Panhandlers for sport are like unlimited bag of ducks around here. I'm going to get shot one day.
HA!

[don novicki]

I'm going to buy some generic job application forms and the next time I am asked I'm going to hand them an app. and tell them that XYZ is hiring and they can submit their application to them. Now that's real help..................

[aunt betty]

I'm going to buy some generic job application forms and the next time I am asked I'm going to hand them an app. and tell them that XYZ is hiring and they can submit their application to them. Now that's real help..................

Just make sure you don't send them to Ries Labs or me.
Don't need to hire thieves and liars.
The CIA is looking for some of that sort of thing I hear.

[Darren]

It's pretty bad down this way also, especially here in BR being at the intersection of major interstates and of course our state's capitol.