I know that we are constantly told to give to homeless shelters rather than to homeless individuals begging in the street, but could anyone honestly harden one's heart and walk past homeless individuals without giving them a few pence for a meal?
Yes, one hears all sorts of things about them, but they are human beings just like us and we should not judge others until we have been in their shoes.
There's a very humbling video doing the rounds which shows a boy in a torn t-shirt t-shirt in winter, or at least in very cold weather, begging on the streets of New York. All he has is an old coffee cup and an old dustbin liner. After about an hour he just gives up and crawls into the dustbin liner, where he lies until finally one man approaches him. "What's up, Little Brother?" he says. He gives the boy his coat and a few dollars out of his pocket and then drops a bombshell. He's homeless too!
For two hours people had been walking past this lad, ignoring his plight, but it took a homeless man to give him his coat. A guy who has more need of a coat than anyone!
The scenario with the boy was a set-up. But the homeless man is genuine. At least how I believe it
And as to giving to homeless shelters. When I was in Kenya we visited a wood-carving village. It's the same tribe that does all the carving, just as it's the same tribe that produces all the runners etc.
Much as you wanted to purchase carvings from the actual carvers themselves - and they can carve a beaytiful animal in a matter of minutes - you were encouraged not to. If you bought from the shop 25% of the purchase price went to the carver, and 75% of it went into a pension fund for him. I realise that's a very simplistic view of the situation, and I may have got my percentages wrong, but that's the general outline
Absolutely nothing, and you really feel like slipping them a few quid. Interestigly enough in Kenya there is loads of food but very little clothing. If you see people selling carvings and ask how much, they'll answer two pairs of socks. My mate took about 20 kid's Millwall shirts out and when we visited a school he left the shirts with them for their football team. Imagine that!
But it is nice to think there are organisations looking after the carvers and helping them to start pension funds etc.
I know that we are constantly told to give to homeless shelters rather than to homeless individuals begging in the street, but could anyone honestly harden one's heart and walk past homeless individuals without giving them a few pence for a meal?
Yes, one hears all sorts of things about them, but they are human beings just like us and we should not judge others until we have been in their shoes.
There's a very humbling video doing the rounds which shows a boy in a torn t-shirt t-shirt in winter, or at least in very cold weather, begging on the streets of New York. All he has is an old coffee cup and an old dustbin liner. After about an hour he just gives up and crawls into the dustbin liner, where he lies until finally one man approaches him. "What's up, Little Brother?" he says. He gives the boy his coat and a few dollars out of his pocket and then drops a bombshell. He's homeless too!
For two hours people had been walking past this lad, ignoring his plight, but it took a homeless man to give him his coat. A guy who has more need of a coat than anyone!
The scenario with the boy was a set-up. But the homeless man is genuine. At least how I believe it
Did the boy eventually return the coat to the homeless man, karl?
Polly, Obviously he got his coat back, but I 'think' they gave him $500.
Certainly there were hugs all around
And as to giving to homeless shelters. When I was in Kenya we visited a wood-carving village. It's the same tribe that does all the carving, just as it's the same tribe that produces all the runners etc.
Much as you wanted to purchase carvings from the actual carvers themselves - and they can carve a beaytiful animal in a matter of minutes - you were encouraged not to. If you bought from the shop 25% of the purchase price went to the carver, and 75% of it went into a pension fund for him. I realise that's a very simplistic view of the situation, and I may have got my percentages wrong, but that's the general outline
With respect, Karl, I do not understand the last post. What is wrong with giving to the carvers?
Absolutely nothing, and you really feel like slipping them a few quid. Interestigly enough in Kenya there is loads of food but very little clothing. If you see people selling carvings and ask how much, they'll answer two pairs of socks. My mate took about 20 kid's Millwall shirts out and when we visited a school he left the shirts with them for their football team. Imagine that!
But it is nice to think there are organisations looking after the carvers and helping them to start pension funds etc.