Yep we get them out here in western Mass my Mom gives her change alot of the time. Once I was driving her to the Doc and there was one at the intersection she want me to roll down the window and give her some money. I told her no and said look at what she is wearing for clothes. Nice clean jeans nice woolrich jackect and new leather hiking boots. I told her she isn't homeless dressed like that. ThomT
On the other hand. I've seen some looking fairly normal panhandling and over the span of a few years get seriously screwed up physically and mentally. One guy in particular that worked from South Station to D&Ds to 133 High St took a serious health slide.
One year near Christmas time I brought in a nearly new pair of boots that did not fit me but would certainly fit him and because his shoes were all tattered. He seemed pleased. A couple days later he was back in the tattered shoes so he was either rolled (not likely as he probably wouldn't have the same shoes) or he flipped them in trade for something else. That was the end for me and panhandlers.
If you want to help out, give not to the people on the street but to the shelters that house them like Pine St & Rosies Place
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