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While we were vacationing in Seattle, my husband dressed in ragged old clothes and flip flops, and put 50 rolled up dollar bills in his pocket. He walked around town late at night asking people if they had a dollar to spare for someone less fortunate than themselves. Most people looked him up and down, then shook their head or said no. When they did, he took a dollar out of his pocket and handed it to them saying “Well, now you do, so pass it along to someone who needs it.”

He said it was the best and most fun fifty dollars he has ever spent. Hopefully it taught a lesson to the surprised (and shamed) recipients.

Many families in this country are only one or two paychecks from homelessness. If your job got downsized tomorrow, it could be YOU on the other side of that cardboard sign. People caution me all the time against giving money to panhandlers, but I do it anyway. In my book, it is better to err on the side of kindness. – Joan ♥