How Should You Deal With Lubbock’s Panhandlers?

We can all sympathize with someone who's down on their luck. "There but the grace, go I..." is the saying. The question is, is giving the person on the corner money the best way to help?

I've researched the question of dealing with panhandlers a bit. It was apparently a "thing" in the news a few years back, but no one seems to really be asking the question now. The answer seems to be pretty simple though.  Most sources say you should give your money to qualified agencies.

When you give your money to that person on the corner, you may actually be making the situation worst. You could be facilitating a drug or alcohol habit, or you could just be getting scammed. When you give your money to an organization, they can use the combined buying power to help more people and make sure that money is used to supply people with the basics. If you still feel you must help a certain person, it's suggested that you offer to buy them food instead of just giving them cash.

Let's also not forget that it is dangerous for both you and the panhandler to have these interactions at intersections too.

It's tough out there and there's a lot of people who need help. That's even more reasons to donate to outreach organizations if you really want to pitch in.

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