Quote
Originally posted by: O2bnVegas
This isn't a new thing. Either give 'em a handout and live with it, or don't do it.
Give to the needy, not the greedy.
Goodwill, Salvation Army, Rescue Mission, Food Banks, charities, churches--they get scammed too, but the money isn't going straight to drugs, and they do help people and families in need.
Our church gets hit up all the time.
- We would give small cash handouts. Word spread and their friends came from afar.
- One frequent-flyer stalked the pastor. He'd given her $5 several times but started turning her down. She followed him home.
- We changed to grocery store gift cards ($10-25). Found out those got cashed for cash (about 60% of value) at places that do that.
- We tried gas vouchers, but the gas stations quit participating. Too many problems caused by the scammers.
Now we put our money toward programs to assist our own who have fallen on hard times (sickness, lose their jobs, etc.). Gives us control over the money and how it is spent. We do meal packs for grade school kids who don't get a decent meal all weekend. (School provides a meal on school days.) We do a weekly program for seniors in the community as well as our members-a hot meal, card games, fellowship, etc. We are not a wealthy church, can't throw good money after bad.
Originally posted by: O2bnVegas
This isn't a new thing. Either give 'em a handout and live with it, or don't do it.
Give to the needy, not the greedy.
Goodwill, Salvation Army, Rescue Mission, Food Banks, charities, churches--they get scammed too, but the money isn't going straight to drugs, and they do help people and families in need.
Our church gets hit up all the time.
- We would give small cash handouts. Word spread and their friends came from afar.
- One frequent-flyer stalked the pastor. He'd given her $5 several times but started turning her down. She followed him home.
- We changed to grocery store gift cards ($10-25). Found out those got cashed for cash (about 60% of value) at places that do that.
- We tried gas vouchers, but the gas stations quit participating. Too many problems caused by the scammers.
Now we put our money toward programs to assist our own who have fallen on hard times (sickness, lose their jobs, etc.). Gives us control over the money and how it is spent. We do meal packs for grade school kids who don't get a decent meal all weekend. (School provides a meal on school days.) We do a weekly program for seniors in the community as well as our members-a hot meal, card games, fellowship, etc. We are not a wealthy church, can't throw good money after bad.
