I gave up my Ramen noodles to compose a MickyD bouncy

[Tucker]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8555589

closeupready  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jun-14-10 03:19 PM
Original message
I normally eat noodles/fruit for lunch, but I had to run errands today and
   
I ended up heading towards the McDonald's.

On my way in, a woman was perched out front, sitting down - she could have been waiting for a bus or who knows, but as I walked by, I saw she was actually asking me a question; I said, "excuse me?" "...something to eat?" and I just waved and went inside. It then hit me that she didn't ask for money, she asked for something to EAT. Wow. I bought two double cheeseburgers, had them put them in separate bags, put a banana in hers with napkins and some ketchup, handed it to her, smiled and said, "Enjoy!"

She was thrilled, and nearly broke down.

I don't like to make spectacles of people who are down-on-their-luck or needy, so I just walked away, but I got a little misty-eyed thinking how unfair it is that anyone goes hungry and yet, we need to honor sanctity of contracts and give CEO's taxpayer subsidized bonuses in the multiple millions of dollars.

Where are our priorities!

Liar #1

xxqqqzme  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Tue Jun-15-10 09:47 AM
Response to Reply #48
56. There was a young man folding such a sign
   
standing on the left turn median the other day. I noticed him as I got off @ my bus stop. There are 6 fast food places w/i half a block of that intersection. I went in the closest one, bought a gift card and crossed the street to give it to him. People should not be going hungry in this country.

Liar #2

MineralMan  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jun-14-10 03:33 PM
Response to Original message
5. Thanks for doing that. We should all be doing that whenever we   Updated at 3:26 PM
   
can. I don't go to McDonalds or other fast food places, so I make a monthly donation to a local center that feeds homeless people. It's the least I can do. It's not enough, but it's something.

Liar #3

And from Bobo the hobo.

bobbolink  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jun-14-10 03:38 PM
Response to Original message
6. Take it from one who knows..... any small act of kindness often brings on tears!   Updated at 9:25 PM
   
While I (and Sapphire Blue before me) keep repeating that we need JUSTICE, not charity, these person-to-person exchanges are also important. Highly recommended!

It is humiliating to her to be out there like that, and EVERYONE deserves to have a home and eat well in the richest country in the world.

This is SHAMEFUL of us to allow this!

Now back to the liars.

LynneSin  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jun-14-10 03:44 PM
Response to Original message
8. I would rather give food to help folks out than money
   
Too many times, at least in my neighborhood, people just want the money for drugs. But if someone needs food I'd be happy to go buy them something to eat. Heck one time a guy outside of Dunkin Donuts wanted some coffee and I bought him a big cup of coffee along with a bagel.

It's not that I don't want to help people, I just want to help them with something they can use.

Liar #4

Xithras  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jun-14-10 07:38 PM
Response to Reply #8
28. I never give money when asked. I always give food when asked. ALWAYS.
   
I find it unconscionable that any human with disposable income could walk past a hungry human being and not help. I won't give money because I know all too well that money is often used to buy booze and drugs, but I will not walk past another hungry human being and ignore his hunger while I sip my Starbucks. If I have the money for a latte, I have the money to help the starving.

I also gave about $500 to my local Food Not Bombs group last year for the same reason. Many FNB chapters won't take cash, but will happily take food donations. They've also taken about 75% of the fruit from the trees in my yard these last two years. If anyone really cares about feeding the hungry, they're one of the best groups to support at the moment.

Liar #5

leveymg  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jun-14-10 04:10 PM
Response to Original message
13. That's a daily occurrence at some of the McDonald's and BKs in DC.   Updated at 7:58 AM
   
I don't eat there very often, but when I did there was always someone outside, and I routinely bought that person lunch. Don't forget extra napkins and dry wipes - they're also important to people who may not have a home with a shower to wash up in.

Too many liars in this campfire. Bobo is quite vocal.

bobbolink  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jun-14-10 04:13 PM
Response to Reply #13
14. Thank you for remembering about the lack of a shower!   Updated at 9:25 PM
   
As for the napkins..... way too many places won't even allow a person to use the restroom! The simple, and human act of washing your hands becomes a trial.

JUSTICE!

I wanna say it but I won't.

devilgrrl  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jun-14-10 05:06 PM
Response to Original message
19. I bought a guy a meal once...
   
he was hungry.

A small bounce is better than no bounce at all.

DesertFlower  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Tue Jun-15-10 12:50 AM
Response to Original message
38. many years ago in new york city my husband
   
saw a man sitting on the sidewalk with his hand out. my husband tried to give him money, but the man wouldn't take it. he said he had fallen and needed help to getting up.

every morning when i got off the bus at 43 st. and avenue of the americas i would see people sitting on the street with their tin cans. i thought if every person who passed would give one nickel he could get a decent meal -- maybe eat for the whole day. i never saw anyone give even a penny

 

[IassaFTots]

Oh God Bless.   

There used to be a dude sitting on the same corner of NW Hwy and 35 in Dallas.  At this intersection there was a beer store, and a McD's.  His sign said "Will Work for Food."  I bought him a sack of Cheeseburgers.  I was so danged proud of myself for doing a good deed.  (I believe I was somewhere around 24-25ish)  That damn man threw that sack at me and told me he didn't want my stinking food, he wanted to buy his own.  Which, later I was told, meant he wanted it to buy beer/smokes at the beer store. 

The ONLY place around here that we see the disabled/homeless people begging for $$ is walking distance to the closest beer store.  I highly doubt that is coincidence. 

[JohnnyReb]

Give a bum a double cheeseburger and he'll eat for a day....give him a job and he'll leave town becoming some other towns problem.

....give him a handout showing what San Francisco will do for him and he'll become some other states problem.

[dandi]

bobbolink  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jun-14-10 03:38 PM
Response to Original message
6. Take it from one who knows..... any small act of kindness often brings on tears!   Updated at 9:25 PM
   
While I (and Sapphire Blue before me) keep repeating that we need JUSTICE, not charity, these person-to-person exchanges are also important. Highly recommended!

Charity is to be despised, but extracting that same money at the point of a gun by government is justice.

Sick.

[NHSparky]

I always got the ones who came up to me and said they needed a dollar for gas.  As soon as I told them I was getting gas and to have them meet me at the nearest gas station, they suddenly didn't need help...either they walked away or gave me the, "Oh, I wouldn't want to inconvenience you, how about just the dollar?" bit.

[Ballygrl]

LOL, I guess I must be bad because I've actually bought the homeless guys cigarettes and gave them money even though I know it's being used for alcohol. I figured they don't have much happiness so if this makes them happy for a bit why not.

[jukin]

Under Obama it has and will only get worse.

[ConservativeMobster]

 I bought two double cheeseburgers, had them put them in separate bags, put a banana in hers with napkins and some ketchup, handed it to her, smiled and said, "Enjoy!"

Mickey D has BANANAS??????

[lastparker]

Mickey D has BANANAS??????

Exactly what I was wondering......

[Carl]

bobbolink  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Jun-14-10 03:38 PM
Response to Original message
6. Take it from one who knows..... any small act of kindness often brings on tears!   Updated at 9:25 PM
  
While I (and Sapphire Blue before me) keep repeating that we need JUSTICE, not charity, these person-to-person exchanges are also important. Highly recommended!

It is humiliating to her to be out there like that, and EVERYONE deserves to have a home and eat well in the richest country in the world.
This is SHAMEFUL of us to allow this!

Only if you are willing to earn it for yourself ,you are not entitled to it just for existing.

[JohnnyReb]

I bought two double cheeseburgers, had them put them in separate bags, put a banana in hers with napkins and some ketchup, handed it to her, smiled and said, "Enjoy!"

Mickey D has BANANAS??????

Only the ones in the jungles of modern America do...........




Yeah, there's racism in that remark.........Hey, you got to say things like that from time to time.....you know.....to keep the DUmmies blood presure up.....if you don't, they're like old tires, they go flat on you.

[BlueStateSaint]

I passed two young guys who had a sign up, about ten years ago, getting on I-87 near where I lived (and still live).  I felt kind of guilty for going by them, so I turned around, went to a MickeyD's, and got a couple of hamburgers and fries, with sodas.  I went back and yelled to them.  Turns out they were very grateful for the food, and they wanted a ride to a local church, where they said that they could find a couple of friends.  I gladly dropped them off at that church.  It was one of those times where God put someone who really did want just the food and a ride, in my path.

[Doc]

LOL, I guess I must be bad because I've actually bought the homeless guys cigarettes and gave them money even though I know it's being used for alcohol. I figured they don't have much happiness so if this makes them happy for a bit why not.

Since you bring this up, after living in NYC for a number of years, and discovering that a substantial percentage of the "homeless" are simply scammers, that make a pretty good living off of begging for money, I will admit that I don't give them handouts, period.

That said, what we do, since we live in an area that there are a number of military installations fairly close, is whenever we are in a restaurant, and a service member/members in uniform are eating, we quietly call the manager over, hand him/her a credit card, and tell them that the military folks are eating on us, and we want to do it anonymously.

The only time that we didn't get away with the anonymous part was in a Waffle House, in central Missouri, where we encountered five Army folks in BDU's, two officers, and three enlisted, and when the meal was over, we (and they) were the only people in the place.  When the waitress told them there was no check, one of officers came over to us, and thanked us profusely.....telling us that they were a Black Hawk helicopter crew, that had been forced down by mechanical problems at the local airport, and were awaiting assistance.  The officer reached over to his sleeve, and pulled off his unit insignia patch, and handed it to my wife, and thanked her again.  She still has that patch pinned to the wall over her desk.

Perhaps we are callous, but, at least where we live, there are missions, soup kitchens, and shelters, where the legitimately homeless can allways get a meal, and assistance (and we support some of these as well), however, if I'm going to buy someone a meal, I'm gonna to do it for the people that really count.......and devote their lives to keeping us free.  It's the least we can do.

Not that I'd expect the DUmmies to understand........

doc

[IassaFTots]

LOL, I guess I must be bad because I've actually bought the homeless guys cigarettes and gave them money even though I know it's being used for alcohol. I figured they don't have much happiness so if this makes them happy for a bit why not.

Now see, that wouldn't bother me in the least.  If he had a sign that says, "I want some booze and smokes"  I would have been happy to assist.  but don't say "Will work for Food"  then get food, and be all ungrateful for it. 

[ConservativeMobster]

Only the ones in the jungles of modern America do...........




Yeah, there's racism in that remark.........Hey, you got to say things like that from time to time.....you know.....to keep the DUmmies blood presure up.....if you don't, they're like old tires, they go flat on you.

Could be why our greastest concentration of "hungry homeless" are located near the Churches Fried Chicken

[Karin]

That was a great story, Doc, and one that would sicken the DUmmies on so many levels.  Hope a lurker sees it and it ruins his lunch!

Bobbo sez:

we need JUSTICE richly appointed spacious homes for free, all food and drink for free, internet access and other entertainment for free, and anything else I forgot for free, not charity

We are rural, so we don't have homeless in the classic sense.  What my husband does with our business, is go "sliding scale" on what he charges.  If certain people are going through rough times, and we know it, the discounts are very deep.  We're not going to be millionaires, but hey. 

[Ballygrl]

I bought two double cheeseburgers, had them put them in separate bags, put a banana in hers with napkins and some ketchup, handed it to her, smiled and said, "Enjoy!"

Mickey D has BANANAS??????

Yeah, where did the banana come from? if she had it in her pocket why not hand it to the person while they were waiting for the burgers?

[Ballygrl]

Since you bring this up, after living in NYC for a number of years, and discovering that a substantial percentage of the "homeless" are simply scammers, that make a pretty good living off of begging for money, I will admit that I don't give them handouts, period.

That said, what we do, since we live in an area that there are a number of military installations fairly close, is whenever we are in a restaurant, and a service member/members in uniform are eating, we quietly call the manager over, hand him/her a credit card, and tell them that the military folks are eating on us, and we want to do it anonymously.

The only time that we didn't get away with the anonymous part was in a Waffle House, in central Missouri, where we encountered five Army folks in BDU's, two officers, and three enlisted, and when the meal was over, we (and they) were the only people in the place.  When the waitress told them there was no check, one of officers came over to us, and thanked us profusely.....telling us that they were a Black Hawk helicopter crew, that had been forced down by mechanical problems at the local airport, and were awaiting assistance.  The officer reached over to his sleeve, and pulled off his unit insignia patch, and handed it to my wife, and thanked her again.  She still has that patch pinned to the wall over her desk.

Perhaps we are callous, but, at least where we live, there are missions, soup kitchens, and shelters, where the legitimately homeless can allways get a meal, and assistance (and we support some of these as well), however, if I'm going to buy someone a meal, I'm gonna to do it for the people that really count.......and devote their lives to keeping us free.  It's the least we can do.

Not that I'd expect the DUmmies to understand........

doc

We have something called Bridge People here, they live under the bridge, but they're really nice, they usually hang out by a 7 Eleven type store, they don't bother anyone though, they never ask for a hand-out but are appreciative if people give them something.

That's really cool about paying the bill for the Military people, we have an Arsenal around here and I'll have to keep that in mind.

[Wineslob]

"So der I was, jus mindin my own bidnes and this honkey walks up and hands me a bag 'o food! WTF? DUmbass foo."

[soleil]

Not a liar here. I always give food to people asking for money. If they take it, they are really actually hungry. If they don't, well my dogs get a little treat. There are times when I do give money, but never in large amounts. I just can't not try to help. If they use it for drugs, then shame on them. Not shame on me.

I always try to think of Hebrews 13-2 when I see a homeless person. Some are liars and cheats, but others are the real deal.

[Alpha Mare]

I learned the hard way to stick with helping animals.

[soleil]

I learned the hard way to stick with helping animals.

I got duped one time for sure. Some guy walked up to me with this story about running out of gas while on his way home to a different city. He said his wife and his child were stranded on the interstate, and he needed some money for gas. I gave him $5. I didn't really feel like he was being truthful, but I gave it to him anyhow. About 6 months later, the same guy came up to me with the same story. I called him on it and didn't give him any money. I actually told him to remember who he lies to next time. However, that doesn't stop me. I don't go looking for people to give money to, but something inside me can't let it go if I refuse. Sometimes it is only 50 cents, but if I get screwed, no biggie. I don't give what I can't. Again, I think it is more shame on them than shame on me. However, I totally understand people being wary and not giving money. There are soup kitchens, Salvation Army, etc. I also direct these people there.


Oh, and I totally help out the animals. I am a sucker for animals!! All of my dogs are rescue dogs. I wouldn't trade my mutts for the world!!

[Alpha Mare]

Oh, and I totally help out the animals. I am a sucker for animals!!

You wouldn't happen to have room for a palomino colt-or three- would ya? 

[soleil]

You wouldn't happen to have room for a palomino colt-or three- would ya? 

I always have room!! lol! My husband will eventually divorce me for bringing home the animals I do!! lol! I've always wanted a big farm full of pigs, cows and horses. To keep as pets!!!!!! One day...

[Reality vs DU]

LOL, I guess I must be bad because I've actually bought the homeless guys cigarettes and gave them money even though I know it's being used for alcohol. I figured they don't have much happiness so if this makes them happy for a bit why not.

I'm pretty surprised to see a conservative post this.  I say this respectfully, that is what I would expect to see posted at the DUmp.

If someone is homeless they should use every penny they get to first feed themselves and second to do whatever they can to improve their situation, I can sympathize with those people only.  Anyone who takes earned money and blows it on booze and cigarettes is a dredge on society.

They should instead be focused on more long term goals, start small and do what they can to make things better in baby steps, once they get to a point where they can buy booze, smokes or whatever the hell they want on their own dime, then good for them.

This is what makes capitalism so great, no rewards for slacking like you see with other economic models.