Charity would NEVER be necessary if every person had their basic necessities of life met. Healthy food, clothing, housing, health care, and education are the five basic necessities. If every person born on this Earth had these from birth til death, we would come to peace.

Oh, hell no! My neighbors would stand out in front of the Walmart with a sign that said "homeless, please help". They weren't homeless! And the woman died of a drug overdose. I am also a volunteer, and a blood donor, but the only hand out I've ever given someone was a man has a sign that said " please help, too ugly for porn." I gave him a dollar for originality! Everyone else is on there own!

The biggest problem I have with organized charity is that if you give to one then it appears that they sell your information to everyone else and you become inundated with mail and phone calls because you have become a mark. That was my personal experience and because of it I have become more suspicious of anyone asking for aid. One organization that I get hounded by is the fraternal order of police. At least a call or two a week. Cops make triple what I ever made and have a pension, so why should they ever think that I need to support them as I live on SS.

I generally do not encourage panhandlers. I live in Sacramento, CA, in a low-middle class area. I own my home and purchased it recently. The "hood" I live in is quite a step down demographically so I see a lot of panhandling. They sit on the median at almost every intersection. I have also seen organized panhandling. I once saw them being dropped off at two different mall entrances by a van where they proceeded to take up stations under the marquis signs at the parking lot entrances. I certainly don't support career panhandling and prefer to help persons I know who are experiencing difficult times. I recently drove about 20 miles to fill the gas tank of someone I know and then took her to the grocery store and bought her some groceries. I did this using credit, and am not wealthy, but I want to help people I know are trying to help themselves. I will not help someone who thinks they should be provided for.

I think you have a duty to ensure that you and yours are provided for first. Otherwise you would end up begging yourself. However once thats been taken care of I like to give and regularly give to various charities. I feel lucky that im in a position to have a little surplus. ( I'm a Buddhist and giving (DANA) is kind of a requirement)
However i don't often give cash to individuals. I think people should give responsibly. So im not going to give money to someone to buy things that i can't approve of like drugs, alcohol, even cigarettes. So ill buy a cup of coffee or a sandwhich and give that to them
I was in India on holiday and you get approached by beggars in the street. i was handing out very small amounts of cash. An indian guy approached me and said that my money was probably going to a gang leader who had these people begging on his/her behalf. He told me that id do much better to give my money to one of the many temples as they cook massive meals and feed poor people everyday. Which was what i then started to do.

I have helped many people and it is difficult for me to say no. There are some people who will take advantage of me and it has affected the way that I react to people. I have to say no more often because I am not an ATM and I cannot help everyone.

With drugs being such a prevalent problem this may be why they need cash.

Whether I give or not depends on a lot of factors.
If I see someone out and I have a bit of cash that I don't have a predetermined use for and I haven't seen them refuse other offers of assistance I have given them cash. The life choices they make after that I make no judgements on but it is a one time deal I don't make second deposits.

I don't help humans because at nearly 8,000,000,000 and counting we are doing just fine and some. I haven't myself made any humans myself though I am guilty of habitat loss as I live in a house and drive a car etc. I do try to help endangered animals even though I think that's a lost cause.

I’ve developed a look so that when they ask they see my scowl then quickly leg it

No siree - folks like that are money pits. Scammers, as you say, so don't feel guilty about keeping your hard-earned money.

Charity is never necessary, and I'd say the point you've reached...

I don't think charity is ever necessary, but it can be a kind thing to do, if one does it without preconceived notions of what the receiver "should" do with it. I don't often give because I don't have a lot of money. When I do give, it's rarely to an organization. I usually give to individuals. Their attire, hygiene, looks don't matter to me, and I don't care if they're scamming me or not. When I give, I consider it a gift with no strings, and I do it for my own reasons.

Had this debate with a "Christian" right winger the other day, she says that it is more likely that the person you are giving to will spend the money on booze, drugs or cigarettes. Here is my thought on this. Maybe so, maybe even often this would happen. If you are giving money or time to charity and looking for the recipients to change their lifestyle, have some epiphany or otherwise mince down to unemployment and gain a job the next day I have some bad news for you-99% of the time none of this will happen. They will live their lives just as they always have for the most part, you will be feeding the same people for the next few years until events force them to move elsewhere. Business management 101 will tell you that 5% of Americans are unemployable, simple as that. There are many reasons for this but on fact still remains, they are people and Americans. I fed 63 of them last month at the community center with food I bought. You know what? 63 people went home with a full stomach. I feel good about that, I will try again next month.

Do not Ever give cash...if they are hungry, buy them a meal, and guide them to the food stamp office, or food banks, meal kitchens. If threadbare, take them to Wal-Mart or Goodwill. Homeless? Take them to a shelter...and etc. Making them less helpless will have long-term good outcomes for them. I find panhandlers that Say they need " money for food" when i offer actual food, mostly tell me to "eff off" because they want the cash for drugs. I then feel free to guiltlessly walk on.

Hell, no! Most people who ask for cash want cigs, alcohol, or drugs. People should only donate money to legit charities.

I keep dog and cat food in my car, to give to beggars. I NEVER give money.

And you’re not alone in your toughness. Trust me to react very unkindly when asked for money if I’m using my cane or have children with me.

Also, it’s becoming more and more accessible to ask for money. And people develop these attitudes of entitlement. Why should I support them? When they are capable. And the amount of selfish GoFundMe accounts. What happened to working for extra things? You’ll see someone wanting to get funds to throw themselves a party, right next to a family plea to help with a funeral. One is entitlement, one is needed and a worthy cause.

It really upsets me when disabled people beg. They get a paycheck. And they get services most homeless don’t.

I’m disabled, and been screwed after paying into ssi for nineteen years and only getting half what I deserve. I’ve had very rough spots in life, and have been homeless three times in three different decades in three different states. I’m homeless now, because I have three dogs and won’t get rid of one to fit a two dog only lease. But don’t feel bad for me. I have a 17 foot RV, a beautiful view out my windows from a spot I rent to park on my friends property, and plenty of warmth and food. I spend most of my money on the things that are important to me: internet, pot, high shelf dog food (spoiled shits), making/tinkering/crafting, and my grand babies. My point in this last paragraph is that I’m not talking from the outside, I’m talking from inside this group of people.

I also volunteer and donate a lot. In my community, and others. There is a lot of legit need out there—especially families. Children do not deserve to live without a roof, clean clothes and blankets, warmth, and food.

Oohhhh, I know exactly what you mean. You are like me only more so.

I don't understand people who see other people as a resource to support their self-centred existence.

From now on I resolve to demand, in advance, that anyone who asks for my help proves that they are working to get out of their problems.

I don't think charity is necessary as in it's mandated by organizations (church, government, etc.), but I think there's a moral imperative to help out when one is part of a society. That said, you have every right to choose where you believe your time and/or money is spent, and I can understand your irritation at being cornered like that, so just ignore them.

I don't live in an area where there is a lot of panhandling, but we have some people begging at intersections which make sitting at a stop-light a bit uncomfortable. I choose to use my time and money helping people on a more one-to-one basis but I resent it greatly when I'm pushed to help someone I don't feel deserves it.

Like you, I live in a country with free medical, education(to 18) and a good(ish) welfare state.

I do some volunteer work for my local community and some local causes - I help with the village gardening club that does the baskets and floral displays throughout my village - the things that I wouldn't expect should be funded by government.

I will not support large national charities that are collecting for things that should be provided from our taxes or other means. Charities like cancer research shouldn't exist. Drug companies make millions form the drugs and treatments developed. Age concern - again we should be providing for our elders who have worked and been taxed all their lives.

I do suffer a major cognitive dissonance though for one charity I have supported and raised money for consistently which is the local Air Ambulance. It should be funded by central or local government the same as the rest of our ambulance service (very different from the system in the states). But as a biker, I know many people whose lives have been saved by them and know that I may possible need their services in the future. The Air Ambulances around the UK are all funded totally by voluntary contributions and charity. If this money stopped, would the government start to fund it?

I rarely give anyone money. I prefer to give my time, that way I know what help they are getting, and they know I'm actually helping. Throwing money at most problems does nothing but create dependence.

There was a older man in Burnley Lancashire that I knew who was very sprightly and had decided to live on a very small amount per day he had no electricity or gas, got up when it was light went to bed when it got dark - In the daytime he walked and scavenged ate rotting fruit sometimes picked out of litter bins and looked for metal to weigh in when He got to £3.00 he stopped - he was the fittest person I think I ever knew - for his age and he was a beautiful soul. Scammed no one just totally self reliant.

I have seen too many people that are scammers and refused to work when offered. Same on the refusing food ,wanting only cash. I say no to the begging and am sorry if someone really does need a hand

I just say " no ".

You say no to anything that doesn't feel right. Some people are scammers and some are legit. If you get the sense that someone is scamming then "no" is the correct answer.