How to Give to Beggars

The following is just one of my many life-changing experiences that have influenced me to be more attentive to my surroundings. 

(Journaled on February 13, 2012)

         After a long discussion with an Indian friend, I had made the decision to “do my part” in helping the poor and hungry that are on the street.  During our discussion, I was informed about manipulative and dangerous people that hustle beggars by forcing them to beg all day and then give all of the money to the head hustler.  In other words, if I give money to a beggar, then I am most likely just supporting a hustler rather than that individual. 

Shocked and dismayed, I asked my friend for a way to help without supporting the hustlers.  My friend simply cautioned me not to give anything with monetary value.  This not only means to not give rupees, but also not even to give store-bought items or packaged food.  Apparently the beggars are forced to go to the vendor and exchange store-bought items or packaged food for rupees to then give to the hustlers.  My friend then suggested a simple habit that would be “safely” giving to beggars on the street… Whenever I go out to eat, I should get the leftovers to-go and then give those left overs to the beggars.  This method ensures that the donation will stay only with the beggar, because the beggar cannot exchange it for money and they will be able to eat it.

On my way home, with my extra food in hand, I was in a dilemma of not finding someone to give the food to.  There did not seem to be any beggars on the street, which was strange.  I began to get a little anxious to find someone and when my friend noticed my anxiousness, they took the food from me and stepped to the side and handed the food into one of the gaps of the sidewalk.  There was a woman living underneath the sidewalk and I did not even think to look down into the hole.  I had literally stepped over this woman, but my friend had his eyes open and noticed her.  This experience demonstrated how people have been trained to be blind to poverty and how the poor are constantly ignored.  Ever since this incident, I have been intentionally paying close attention to what is going on in my surroundings.