Ever give money to a stranger - Page 3

Tiggy · 15-05-2010, 15:47

I'll help someone if they are short and I can help.

About 7 or 8 years ago I was out in town with my friends for the usual- evening in the vodka bar then copious amounts of cheese and chips before the walk home. There was one of the 'regular' beggars in there, totally notorious and extremely abusive.

Anyway, she had a large meal which she sat and ate on the table next to us. 20 minutes later on the walk home, we were approached by her and asked for money as she was £1.50 short of money for the night shelter.

The honest answer she got from me was 'You should've just had a happy meal'. We all knew she was living in the house next door to some of the friends we were out with.

Tak · 15-05-2010, 16:14

I've just come back from the shops (got IDed again!); as I was leaving a guy asked if I had any change, I said no (my automatic response) and he was polite and said no worries thanks anyway. Walked round the corner past the car park machine and there was a quid on the floor, so I picked it up and went back and gave it to him - cue big smile and lots of thanks from him.

Roberta · 15-05-2010, 20:31

Don't generally give money, but used to drop a flask of coffee off to the Big Issue man next to the shopping centre in town and pick it up on my way back, and once gave my gloves to a nice lady Big Issue seller because it was bloody icy that day.

I'm always seeing a different Big Issue man who laughs at me as I'm always rushing past in a hurry. He thinks I'm a right nutter.

Darrin · 16-05-2010, 02:32

Last winter I was going into the local grocery store and there was a guy there asking for spare change. I (politely) asked why he didn't get a job. His response was he hadn't found one that would take him on (disabled). This was right around Christmas time and the Salvation Army was trying to get people to be bell ringers. I suggested this to him and there was genuine surprise in his eyes as he said he'd completely forgotten about them!

Offered him a ride over to their recruiting station. He was almost flabbergasted at the offer and tripped over his tongue with thanks.

Got him over there, waited to see if he got hired or not, then gave him a ride right back to the store he was begging at with his bell and coin tower in the back of the Jeep.

That man was out there from when the store opened at 6AM until it closed at 10PM 6 days a week (store's closed Sundays). In the freezing cold. I drove past one time and beeped the horn and when he waved there was snow fell off his coat!! But he was out there!

A month or so after the season ended and the Salvation Army closed up the bell ringer shop I met him in the same store and he was buying groceries. Talked to him for almost an hour. He had saved up enough to put a deposit on a bachelor apartment and bought himself a bicycle to get around on. The job reference from the Salvation Army was apparently glowing enough it landed him a full time desk job at an attorney's office.

Roberta · 16-05-2010, 12:40

What a fab story!

Blighter · 16-05-2010, 21:54

omg, that's amazing!! You must feel so happy with yourself

Darrin · 20-05-2010, 04:17

Not so much happy with myself as I am happy for him!!

All I did was make a suggestion at the right time for him. He did all the work!

He's an amazing inspiration to me. I see him every once in a while at the store. While homeless he fell asleep and his right leg was severely damaged from the hip down due to frostbite. He has refused numerous attempts to get him on Social Security Disability. Says his disability is his own dumb fault and will not take charity for what he calls a stupid mistake.

But he's willing to work 16 hours a day 6 days a week to make things better for himself. Inspirational indeed.

15-05-2010, 15:47	#21
Tiggy Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Lincoln Posts: 1,059	I'll help someone if they are short and I can help. About 7 or 8 years ago I was out in town with my friends for the usual- evening in the vodka bar then copious amounts of cheese and chips before the walk home. There was one of the 'regular' beggars in there, totally notorious and extremely abusive. Anyway, she had a large meal which she sat and ate on the table next to us. 20 minutes later on the walk home, we were approached by her and asked for money as she was £1.50 short of money for the night shelter. The honest answer she got from me was 'You should've just had a happy meal'. We all knew she was living in the house next door to some of the friends we were out with. __________________

15-05-2010, 16:14	#22
Tak L'Oréal Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 9,977	I've just come back from the shops (got IDed again!); as I was leaving a guy asked if I had any change, I said no (my automatic response) and he was polite and said no worries thanks anyway. Walked round the corner past the car park machine and there was a quid on the floor, so I picked it up and went back and gave it to him - cue big smile and lots of thanks from him. __________________ The look on your face when a toddler rips out your heart and shows it to you? Priceless.... For everything else, there's FWOOSH!

15-05-2010, 20:31	#23
Roberta Pole Model Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,986	Don't generally give money, but used to drop a flask of coffee off to the Big Issue man next to the shopping centre in town and pick it up on my way back, and once gave my gloves to a nice lady Big Issue seller because it was bloody icy that day. I'm always seeing a different Big Issue man who laughs at me as I'm always rushing past in a hurry. He thinks I'm a right nutter. __________________ I fell out of favour with Heaven somewhere, and I'm here for the hell of it now...

16-05-2010, 02:32	#24
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	Last winter I was going into the local grocery store and there was a guy there asking for spare change. I (politely) asked why he didn't get a job. His response was he hadn't found one that would take him on (disabled). This was right around Christmas time and the Salvation Army was trying to get people to be bell ringers. I suggested this to him and there was genuine surprise in his eyes as he said he'd completely forgotten about them! Offered him a ride over to their recruiting station. He was almost flabbergasted at the offer and tripped over his tongue with thanks. Got him over there, waited to see if he got hired or not, then gave him a ride right back to the store he was begging at with his bell and coin tower in the back of the Jeep. That man was out there from when the store opened at 6AM until it closed at 10PM 6 days a week (store's closed Sundays). In the freezing cold. I drove past one time and beeped the horn and when he waved there was snow fell off his coat!! But he was out there! A month or so after the season ended and the Salvation Army closed up the bell ringer shop I met him in the same store and he was buying groceries. Talked to him for almost an hour. He had saved up enough to put a deposit on a bachelor apartment and bought himself a bicycle to get around on. The job reference from the Salvation Army was apparently glowing enough it landed him a full time desk job at an attorney's office. __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern". Last edited by Darrin; 16-05-2010 at 02:35.

16-05-2010, 12:40	#25
Roberta Pole Model Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,986	What a fab story! __________________ I fell out of favour with Heaven somewhere, and I'm here for the hell of it now...

16-05-2010, 21:54	#26
Blighter Dubious Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Northampton Posts: 1,571	omg, that's amazing!! You must feel so happy with yourself __________________ Look at your signature, now back to mine, now back to yours, now back to mine. Sadly, yours isn't mine. But if you stopped writing about other things and made this your signature, yours could be like mine. Look down, back up. Where are you? You're on Boat Drinks, reading the signature your signature could be like. I'm on a computer. My Blog \| More Outdoors \| MSN \| Email \| Call Me

20-05-2010, 04:17	#27
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	Not so much happy with myself as I am happy for him!! All I did was make a suggestion at the right time for him. He did all the work! He's an amazing inspiration to me. I see him every once in a while at the store. While homeless he fell asleep and his right leg was severely damaged from the hip down due to frostbite. He has refused numerous attempts to get him on Social Security Disability. Says his disability is his own dumb fault and will not take charity for what he calls a stupid mistake. But he's willing to work 16 hours a day 6 days a week to make things better for himself. Inspirational indeed. __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".