Would you help someone you hardly know?
Find a Conversation
Would you help someone you hardly know?
| Tue, 05-25-2010 - 8:10am |
So my question is actually two-fold : would you help someone you hardly know and, if so, how would you help?

Pages
hey Kate. How about a real casual approach. Something like, hey, I made this at home, it's just me and my daughter, and we'll never eat it all...... or I got this at the store for breakfast/lunch, my eyes were bigger than my stomach, haha, I don't want to throw it away......
You have a great sense of humor, which I am sure this woman has heard in the past, so maybe just be yourself. She will know, but you are not embarassing her this way, it doesn't come across as charity.
http://www.TickerFactory.com/savings/
If she doesn't have her food budget for two weeks, I think she's going to need serious help. If you know of a nearby soup kitchen or food cupboard (or church) that is available, you could point her in that direction. Besides being a help at this time, she would be made aware of some resources should she ever need them in the future. Plus some organizations welcome volunteers, so if she seems to be unwilling to take "charity", it is more like she is working for a benefit she receives.
Plus I wouldn't judge her son too harshly - he may also be struggling to feed his own family.
Dollarsandcents, I could probably swing some breakfast food for her that way ... I can just visit the Timmy's on my way to the bus stop and then share it with her.
Kate
Those situations are tough, but I like both suggestions you have received so far. Gift cards are good to give her, and finding out where your local food banks are and filling her in on that is good too.
Is there any kind of food assistance program she could get on?
You've had some good suggestions. I would buy a big box of timbits maybe, offer to share with other people at the stop/on the bus not just her, so she's not feeling singled out. Buy a loaf of fresh baked bread and wrap it in plastic wrap, pretend you baked it and are just being generous sharing your baking.
Or do invite her over for supper, cook something that you're comfortable with not something fancy. Or maybe have your daughter cook something? Then you might learn her name and possibly even where she lives. If you find that out, it's really easy then to leave a little surprise box outside her door...Even $10 will buy a lot of food for one person.
Or, do you get off the bus before her? Because you could just be really dramatic and leave a little bag of food as you get off. Simply tell her that you're leaving it and either she can take it with her or someone else will.
I would reach out, I would help someone like that. I couldn't imagine not trying to help.
~ Mom to 5 ~
I get the gift card and tell her it was a freebie and give it to her.
Norma
"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus
Kate,
This is just a thought...could you somehow stick cash into
Robyn CL- Debt Support Group
Kate. Wow you are so generous and willing to help. I commend you.
What about a card with a sealed envelope? Tell her she can open it later, and that it is just a nice card to cheer her up? With cash in it because a gift card you would be able to tell because it would be lumpy.
I actually had a nun in here a few weeks ago asking for money for her church. Really?! A nun? I said no. I know you are asking yourself how does Karen say no to a nun? LOL. It is just from experience because I don't need another charity that I give money to every year. I have a couple of those, and I (myself, or so I fee like at times) am a charity. I should be registered. I am kidding of course but I don't have a lot of extra money kicking around if you know what i mean!
You are awesome Kate!
Yes, I would. In a heartbeat. I'm all about random acts of kindness, and it doesn't matter whether I know my "victim" or not!
I'm assuming you can out run her. =c) Press the money into her hand/pocket/purse and wish her a nice day. If you're worried she would insist on paying you back, then I'd find a way to do it anonymously if possible. Not sure if you know where she lives or ever sit next to her where you could slip it in her purse or something, but I'd definitely do what I had to do to get it to her - even more than $50 if I had it. =c)
FLINGING DEBT:
Sarah,
Norma
"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus
Pages