Had a guy approach me today while I was having lunch at a cafe and I was sitting outside. He says: "Have you got some money for me to eat something?". I said: "If you come back in a few minutes, I'll give you a decent slice of my buritto". He says: "Yeah -- I just gotta catch a train home to my family, and I haven't got the money". I say: "I don't know about your train ride, but I heard you about your lunch. I really will give you a decent amount of my buritto. Just swing by in 5 minutes."
Yup, in Capetown you can't take a drive or a trip to the shops without being asked.
No, you did good. The homless ministry down the road from us tell us that if you give homeless people a little money, all you do is ensure they stay on the streets. If they can get stuff from you, they don't need to get off the streets. Sounded a bit harsh at 1st but I se their point.
They have booklets of meal tickets which you buy and then give a ticket when someone asks you for bread.
Each week without fail we have guys rock'n up to church looking for money, accomodation, work, soes, food etc. 99% of them are just trying their luck. And a decent proportion of them are simply scamers. My heart breaks for the real deal though.
3 comments:
Funny.
Whats panhandling like in SA? Huge here in NYC.
Had a guy approach me today while I was having lunch at a cafe and I was sitting outside. He says: "Have you got some money for me to eat something?". I said: "If you come back in a few minutes, I'll give you a decent slice of my buritto". He says: "Yeah -- I just gotta catch a train home to my family, and I haven't got the money". I say: "I don't know about your train ride, but I heard you about your lunch. I really will give you a decent amount of my buritto. Just swing by in 5 minutes."
He never showed.
Did I do bad?
Scott, random question, did you take that photo yourself?
Jman i think i would have done the same.
Always hard to know though hey...
Yup, in Capetown you can't take a drive or a trip to the shops without being asked.
No, you did good. The homless ministry down the road from us tell us that if you give homeless people a little money, all you do is ensure they stay on the streets. If they can get stuff from you, they don't need to get off the streets.
Sounded a bit harsh at 1st but I se their point.
They have booklets of meal tickets which you buy and then give a ticket when someone asks you for bread.
Each week without fail we have guys rock'n up to church looking for money, accomodation, work, soes, food etc. 99% of them are just trying their luck. And a decent proportion of them are simply scamers. My heart breaks for the real deal though.
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