at the intersection

[asakiyume]

At more and more intersections, especially ones with multiple lanes of traffic, there are people holding up signs saying they're homeless and hungry and asking if you can spare anything. When traffic is moving, cars are speeding by. When traffic is stopped, though, I guess some people must give, otherwise no one would bother asking.

I feel even more conflicted about this form of panhandling than I do about other forms because it seems dangerous, mainly for the person begging, but potentially for others too.

I've never seen anyone give anything to anyone, until yesterday. The light was red. We were in the left lane, right next to the panhandler, but were resolutely ignoring her. (Usually it's a older man there, but yesterday it was a young woman, all bundled up.) Then the car next to us in the right lane honked. The white-haired woman in that car rolled down her window and called to the panhandler, holding out a ziplock bag containing two water bottle and a sleeve of crackers. The panhandler crossed in front of our car to get to the woman with the bag, smiled and thanked her, and walked back to the island between the opposing lanes of traffic, all before the light turned.

That moment of exchange seemed just . . . good. Both women seemed happy. Putting everything else aside--and I know we can't really do that, but--if you ask, it must be consoling, heartening, warming, any number of other good things, to have someone respond. And the older woman didn't just happen to have that stuff in her car; she must have prepared the bag in advance. It must have been wonderful to help someone, even if just in a small way.

Comments

[athenais.livejournal.com]

I've given money when I have it to those guys, a buck or two, sometimes five. The way I figure it, no one does that unless they could use the money. There has always been an exchange of smiles and thank yous and please try to get to a shelter if you cans. Never any cussing or sour looks that it wasn't enough or attempts to wash my windshield. I was heartbroken last week when I saw a young man looking a little rough sitting by an intersection with a sign. It said, "Just hungry."

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I'm really touched to hear it. I'm glad you do.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Yesterday after work I saw a youngish gentleman with a sign that just said "Homeless and Ashamed". What really got me, though, was his whole posture - it was clear the sign was the painful truth. Everything about him spoke of despair.

I handed him one of my gift bags, and when he looked up at me in surprise, I just said with all the authentic conviction I could muster, "There's no need for shame, sir. Good luck to you." I don't know that he was in a place where he could hear it, but it was what I could offer at the time.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Friendliness never goes amiss, I think.

(Or rather, since I can't ever think anything without then thinking about when it's not true, etc. etc., sure: sometimes people can misinterpret or misunderstand things, BUT, generally speaking, I think friendliness never goes amiss)