Do you give to panhandlers?

[LuckyCharms]

21. I was at Salvation Army one time, in line waiting to get a tax receipt for donations.

This was before the tax laws changed and you could itemize your deductions easier.

There was this elderly woman in line in front of me, trying to buy this little stuffed animal. She was about a dollar short, so the woman behind the counter would not come down on the price and just sell it to her. She told the cashier she was buying it for her granddaughter, but the woman still would not sell it to her because she didn't have enough money.

I told the cashier I would pay for it. Got in a discussion with the elderly woman after this, and she told me she barely had enough money for the bus to get home. I asked her where she lived and told her I would bring her home. So I drove her home. She was sweet and we had a nice discussion during the ride. Not sure I would do that these days though.

Otherwise, I'll just give panhandlers food because I normally don't carry cash.

If I believe the person is scammy, I won't give anything, but I can usually tell who really needs it. I'll just run to Subway or McDonald's and bring them back some food.

My shrink once gave me hell for doing this. he said most of them are looking for drug money, or don't have money for food because they use whatever cash they have to buy drugs. I told him I didn't give a fuck.