I combine my errands to save fuel. Recently I was out running a couple errands in the area where my gym is, two birds, one stone, and after a workout, I stopped at the Chinese restaurant across the street. It was getting kindof late, I was a little tired and hungry and just did not feel like taking the time to cook that night. I saw these 2 people near the restaurant’s entrance, one was a guy maybe early 20’s and the other, honestly wasn’t sure if it was a guy or a girl, about same age LOL. They asked me if I had any money to spare because they were hungry and needed something to eat. They were polite and humble, yet they usually are. And you never know if they are well meaning people who had hard luck and really are hungry, or if they are just panhandlers looking for a crack rock or a bottle of whiskey. I just don’t like being approached by random people because you never know their intent. I have worked in some bad areas and have heard every story in the book….but again, some may be legit. I just told them, sorry I do not have cash on me but I wished them luck and went on. Which I really don’t ever carry cash, I use debit card for everything pretty much, so I was telling them the truth.
My first instinct as a business owner, that this is not good for business, having their customers approached by panhandlers. So I told the manager that there were 2 people outside that say they are hungry and are asking for money, and it may prevent some customers from entering the restaurant. Looked like he asked them to leave the premises and they did. One way to tell if they were legit, was to invite them in and offer to cover their dinner tab, since it was a buffet and maybe would have been 25 dollars. If they accepted the offer, I’d know they are for real, but if not, I’d quickly know they were looking for their next fix. I don’t believe in supporting peoples’ laziness or habits, when I work for my money…..but also I don’t mind giving the hungry something to eat. Now I kindof wish I did that, not that I have 25 dollars to burn, now especially, but if they were hungry, and I helped feed them, it’s just good karma and it would help them out. Maybe the fact that I thought about this afterwards is symbolic of something, just not sure what, but I hope they got the help they needed, if it was food. Next time that happens, and they say specifically they need food, I’ll offer them food, now that I think about it, I think I should have done that with them.
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