The IntellilgencerJournal New Erea article “Warning to panhandlers: Stop it!” reports:
“The bike and foot patrol safety ambassadors will carry smaller cards with the message, “It’s okay to say “no” to panhandling,” to give out to people who are being asked for money on downtown streets…
On the back of the card is a list of local resources, including the Lancaster Council of Churches, the United Way of Lancaster County, Water Street Ministries, Spanish American Civic Association and Tabor Community Services, where people can give money to help those in need in the community.
We thoroughly endorse this procedure because it offers real help to those in need while discouraging those who would exploit the decency of passing by.”
It is not uncommon in Manhattan for an elderly Caucasian in an affluent neighborhood to be approached by a sobbing woman with children who will pour out a sad tale about being homeless.
Our response is to direct them to the Salvation Army and to offer to take them there by taxi. No one yet has accepted the offer.
But there is a more important thing for us to do. That is to actually provide financial support to those local agencies so that they indeed can advise and assist. So long as we have done so generously, we should feel no guilt about turning down panhandlers.
