After the incident with a pan handler a couple of weeks ago, I thought about the incident throughout the week and felt bad that I had assumed the worse of this man and realized that had I been this poor student needing to get home to bury my mother, I would be just as distraught if not more so ... then I saw him downtown on my way to work one day last week, approaching a elderly couple! ARGH!!! Unfortunately, I was driving down Main Street and could not stop to yell out my window and warn this couple. So, let me give you the details in case you're ever approached downtown:
- Young man in his 20's claiming to be a poor college student (with only $11 in his bank account);
- Shaved bald head and clean;
- Both times I saw him in khaki pants and tan long-sleeved light plaid-patterned shirt;
- Claims to have just lost mother to cervical cancer;
- Needs to catch a bus to go home within the hour;
- Claims that church is partially helping him, but needs another $30 for bus ticket;
- Even offers to have you buy the bus ticket to ensure that the money doesn't go elsewhere;
- If you tell him you don't have the money, he'll quickly turns off the water works and quiver, snaps at you and walks away.
It occurred to me (and confirmed by a friend who works in this area professionally) that if the church was helping anyone in this situation, the bishop, his counselors, RS/EQ Presidents, will get said bus ticket and will not allow anyone to beg to get the funds necessary. I was also reminded that the Church have suggested that we not give to pan handlers, instead pay your tithes and offerings (which benefit people in need) or donate to a legitimate charity. Being kind and charitable doesn't mean you have to be a sucker.
No comments:
Post a Comment