The Other Day...

I've always had a hard time deciding the best way to help out homeless people who hold signs on the street. I know it is not my job to judge their situation, but I gained a different perspective in college when I learned how alcoholism perpetuates the problem of some homeless people. I don't want to give someone money just so they can buy alcohol, but I know that all homeless people don't do that. Plus is it really my business? I can only control my actions-right? Well, years ago, I decided I would try instead to give food, or offer to buy people a meal rather than There's a homeless man in our town that stands by the exit of Stop & Shop nearly everyday. He holds a sign that says "Hungry, Homeless Veteran. May God Bless." Since I'm always coming from grocery shopping when I see him, I try to give him something to eat when I can. Well, the other day I had just bought a bunch of bananas so I passed him one as I stopped at the stoplight. He looked at it, scrunched his face, shook his head no, and said, "Not ripe enough. I won't eat it." I almost apologized for not having anything better to give him as I shockingly drew my hand back, but as I drove away I just realized he must not be that hungry if he can be picky about a little green on his bananas. I ate that same banana the next morning--it was pretty good. I can appreciate that he knows what he likes and didn't take something that he was going to waste, but I have to say I don't feel as compelled to give him food anymore either.