Some Times You Don't Know What To Do
by James Glaser
September 18, 2011

Wanda and I were headed to Lowes to pick up some things for our projects, and to just look around at all the things they have for home improvement. Just before we pulled into the parking lot, we noticed a woman waving a big sign that said, "Family Needs Food and Gas."

While living in Tallahassee, I became sort of jaded to signs like that, but you still wonder. Almost every day while driving down to Railroad Square where I had my studio I would see the same man at the same corner with the same sign asking for money. The same was true with a different man at a different corner whom I would see on the way home.

I also remember the 60 Minute television program when they interviewed beggars in New Your City who were taking home more money every day than I was making in a week. These "professional" beggars are making it hard for those who are down and out to ask for help from the public.

We all think we can just go to the government and get some help when we have reached bottom, but help from the government has a long lag time before you actually get anything.

I remember a woman in Tallahassee who hit me up many, many times for cash. She always had a new story, but her eyes we so bloodshot and she had tracks on her arms. I would always direct her to First Baptist Church downtown, and remind her how many times she had tried stories on me. It never fazed her, and she would sheepishly smile as she walk away. I guess if you hit up enough people, even if you are totally wasted, you will find a live one every once in a while.

So, what do you do? I guess if you really want to help somebody asking for food, you can buy them lunch or pay so much for groceries at the grocery store or put some gas in their car if they have one. In this day and age, giving cash is pretty iffy, and you will go away wondering if you were really just enabling somebody's habit.

I don't know what the answer is, but so many times in the past, and I believe it will happen even more often in the future, we are going to see more and more people in need of help who will pull at our heart-strings.

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