do you give money to beggars?

I'm not really into giving alms to the beggar, but there are times that I can't resist myself from doing this particularly whenever I saw elderly people who really looks miserable and pitiful that I can feel an enormous sympathy within my heart. Though I have been deceived many times by my sight and made some blunders but I just don't know why I can't help to still do the same thing whenever I saw someone with these kind of looks.

No i don't have spare cash....i get off my bum and work for all i have, i do buy of big issue vendors however as they are recognised sellers.I may give food or a hot drink but do not wish my hard earned money to be spent on the wrong things.

yes i agree with you. Some beggars depend on alms rather than strive to look for a job. actually its a law already not to give to beggars. What we can do is to help them specially the children to put on to orphanages, government institutions or foundations for them to have enough food and study also.

There are times when I do give money to beggars. Most often than not, I don't. I do not want to encourage these beggars to use begging as a source of income. While there are people who give alms to them, they would think that what they are doing is okay.

Hey there! Yeah, a lot of the intersections here in manila have little kids who beg for money. I do appreciate some though who actually sell useful stuff like the "pranella" (well uhm it's like a 10x10in smooth cloth) or candies. I usually buy from them. But for those who beg straight out, sometimes I actually do. It's just somewhat second nature to me.

i try not to but sometimes pity gets the better of me and i find myself fishing some coins and bills from my pocket. seeing old people and young children beg for some money really tugs my heart. i've signed up though for some volunteer work for non-government organizations so i can help them in their activities. i think this is better than giving alms to beggars.

I take it that you are a Filipina, right? I am very "maawin" by nature but my husband discourages me from giving alms. You know that in our country, most beggars belong to a syndicate. You're right, food is better to give.

anti-mendicancy law should prevent filipinos from givin alms to beggars. it is not because we dont like to help, but this is to avoid people who can work to be mendicant, to avoid kids and weak people to be used by syndicates, and for us filipinos to course our help through legitimate agencies. i fail to follow the law at times. but i believe in it.

I seldom give, only to those who are really incapacitated (blinds, crippled, etc.) but to those others out there, especially the Badjaos, I don't give them money at all. It seems that they are making this as their full time occupation. When I see these people on the streets stretching out their hand for alms, it's quite ridiculous because they have strong and healthy bodies who could have worked somewhere else to earn their living. I just hope these people will at least exert effort in order to live just like you and me.

I sometimes do. It is just spur of the moment thing. But I don;t want to encourage these people specially those on the streets because it is dangerous. I would rather give to institutions who help homeless people.:)