I’ll only donate through bonafide charity channels. If someone wants help they can go through those channels. I learned along time ago that many people ‘needing help’ are just trying to scam you, no matter how sincere or persistent they are.
One experience stands out in my mind. I was at a gas station on miramar back in the 90’s in my beat up VW van. At the time, I always carried a 2 gallon can of gas in the back that I kept full. A scruffy looking guy came up to me asking for some money for gas, waving around this tiny gas can and giving me some sob story about how he was traveling to see his sister and was almost there but ran out of gas–his car was a couple of miles down the road and he needed enough gas to get to her house which was about 20 miles away.
I said “No problem, hop in. I have a full 2 gallon can in the back and I’ll be happy to drive you back to your car.” At that point the guy hemmed and hawed and said, “No thanks, I just want the money.”
It’s really sad that there are so many low lifes out there that have to take advantage of others compassion….
