When we lived in UT, there was an older guy that we often fed. We'd make a few sandwiches and add a few apples or a banana or two, and drop it off it him nearly daily. He was truly homeless, pushing a shopping cart, scrounging for cans, etc. We would also give him our crushed cans so he could collect the cash from them.

Locally, the public gets hammered with the beggars outside of the Heinz plant on the local highway, where multiple on ramps and traffic keep traffic at a crawl during the day. Those people are well fed, clean shaven (generally), wearing higher dollar clothes than I wear, and carrying a smartphone, texting, while holding their signs. When we first moved here, I'd give a bit to them, until they started remembering me and expecting it.

I'd rather help the truly needy through programs at church, school, or through the lodge. With those groups involved, I know that the money is generally being used properly.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles