This pic is not taken that night but last month when I went grocery shopping there. No I did not get Vienna sausages. 😉
That one time 8 months ago my friend and I parked at Trolley Square in the dark evening near Whole Foods Market and right as I parked, I saw a man walking towards us through my side mirror. I locked the doors and looked through the mirror again and didn’t see him and just when I breathed a sigh of relief there was a tap on the window on the passenger side where my friend was sitting. We look over and we jumped a little bit as we saw the man telling us to open the door. My friend said to me frantically, “Sarah! Just drive away. Just drive away right now!” I said to her, “But he’s talking to us…. It’s rude to just drive away…..?” and I opened a tiny, tiny crack on the window as my friend just looked at me like what the heck are you doing.
I said to him, “Yes?” and he said to us, “I just got out from the hospital(pointing to his hospital bracelet), my wife and I got in a car accident and my wife just died. I have no money but am so hungry, do you have like 2 dollars you could give me so that I could like go get Vienna sausages at Whole Foods or something?”
Most people would be smart and wouldn’t believe him and would NOT give him the money.
“YOUR WIFE JUST DIED??? Oh my gosh, I am so sorry… that is so terrible…(as I am tearing up and opening up my purse).”
“Yeah, I luckily survived but my wife, she died. I just want to get some Vienna sausages or something at Whole Foods.”
I gave him $10 and he thanked us and walked away.
My friend who I’ve known for only a couple of months and hung out only a couple of times looked at me like who the heck are you and you are crazy and said, “You gave him TEN DOLLARS??? Why did you give him money? You know he was lying right?”
“………..You think so?”
“Sarah!!! Yes, of course he was lying! His wife just died? He wants VIENNA SAUSAGES at WHOLE FOODS???”
“Oh…… Maybe you’re right…”
“You still think he was telling the truth, don’t you?”
“Well, he was wearing a hospital bracelet with the name tag…”
“Oh my gosh, Sarah. Wow. I feel like I need to always be with you to be your body guard or something.”
Maybe this is why my cousin who recently visited us from LA thinks I should never leave outside of Utah because he doesn’t think I’d survive outside the bubble. I didn’t even tell him this story!!! What the heck!!!
And maybe it explains why my dad just got scammed $11,000 by an orphaned “American solder” from Afghanistan who found a box of $80 million cash under the ground while fighting for our country.
Yep.
It's so hard to know what to do in these situations! He could be telling the truth….maybe? I've heard that one should only give food, small gift cards to grocery stores or directions to the nearest homeless shelter when one comes across pan handlers. Just be careful giving things to homeless people at night or all alone, especially if you have your kids with you! I've watched too many "Dateline" type shows where people have been attacked!
*or especially if you only have your kids with you
11k?? Your poor dad! That's terrible.
I hope that guy enjoyed his Vienna sausages. Lol
11k?? Your poor dad! That's terrible.
I hope that guy enjoyed his Vienna sausages. Lol
I know just what you mean! I get so distressed when I have to make such judgement calls, but my friend started this non-profit and I think it is a brilliant way to handle it! https://www.facebook.com/Packet-Full-of-Hope-286810431514042/timeline/
I always carry some canned soup (or other canned goods) in my car. I'm pretty skeptical about the stories beggars tell but on the chance that they are truly in need of food I want to be able to help.
I would have done the same thing. My thought is, what's $10 to me. I'll have to cut a little out of my food budget for the month. Not a big deal. My family will hardly notice.
Maybe his wife didn't die, but what if she had? I couldn't live with the guilt of not giving him the money.
I'm sorry about your dad though. That is awful.
You are so sweet. I may have given him a couple of bucks too.
Sorry about your dad…. which is weird…. cause just this weekend I
got an email with that same line. I think people find out how old a
person is and think we are naive.
This happened to me couple years back. I went to picked up my brother from Akron University and a man came up to me and asked me if I can get give couple bucks. I told him that I don't have cash with me so he asked me to take him to the nearest fast food place and buy him some food which I told him that I can't take him because I'm waiting for my brother. He keep begging and begging that he's hungry and he got small childrens at home to feed too so I told the man that I got canned foods in the back tunk which I'm willing to gave it to him so he can feed his childrens at home. The man got very upset demanding money from me, lucky me my brother walked up to my car and I say to the man, sorry I can't. He started cussing and yelling at me and calling me names. My brother say to me never never open your Windows or your door to anyone especially if you're alone.
Oh Sarah. You are my favorite. Seriously.
Oh Sarah. You are my favorite. Seriously.