Broken Spaceship

You have most likely encountered panhandlers at interstate rest stops, freeway exit ramps and city sidewalks. If you are like me you try not to catch their eye and go on past. I usually glance out of the corner of my eye at the words written on the piece of cardboard that they are holding in their hands. The most common reason they need money seems to be that they are stranded because their car needs fixed.

Several years ago a Salt Lake City newspaper reporter inconspicuously watched a panhandler at a freeway exit ramp. On that particular day the reporter said the beggar’s total reached several hundred dollars. At the end of the day, he ditched his sign in a trashcan, walked a few blocks and got into his newer model car. Then he drove to his house in an upscale subdivision.

After reading the article, regardless of the story scribbled on the cardboard, I don’t give money. Some panhandlers are creative with their pleas. One girl had written on her sign, “Need money for tampons. But will take weed. Anything will do.” Another one had written with multiple colored markers, “Need beer money.” Probably the most creative was, “Spaceship broke down, need money to fix.”

The past few days in Portland, Oregon were uncharacteristically cold. Temperatures plummeted to the mid 20’s and shattered previous records. I witnessed concerned citizens stopping to encourage panhandlers to seek refuge. Besides the temperatures creating dangerous conditions for the homeless, nearby areas reported up to nine inches of snow.

As I mentioned, it is out-of-character for Tim or me to give a panhandler money. However, at an Interstate 5 rest stop the words on the woman’s sign were, “Family of four needs help.” It appeared that this woman must be really desperate for money to stand outside in the cold on the snow-covered ground hoping for change from people passing by.

Today’s gift was to put money in the woman’s can. She didn’t mention a broken spaceship on her sign. Maybe that is one of the reasons why her plea was believable.

In Giving,

Robin