Panhandler

Homeless individuals holding cardboard signs are an increasingly common sight at intersections and freeway off ramps across the Puget Sound. In King County alone, there are over 8,000 homeless men, women and children, over half of them live without shelter and food so they turn to panhandling.

Steve Burger, Executive Director of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, one of the North America's largest social service providers for the homeless, urges Americans not to give money to the homeless on the streets. "If you give a dollar to a panhandler, often you are really funding the local tavern or drug dealer," says Rev. Burger. "Most Americans do not know how to give effectively or wisely. I wish that people would stop giving spare change to the homeless because it can promote irresponsible and self-destructive behaviors. What the homeless really need is permanent change and long-term help; not spare change."

Here are some "sure fire" ways your contribution will make a real difference in the lives of homeless, women, and children in community. They are:

1. Don't give money handouts. Instead purchase food items yourself, refer the person to an agency that can provide food, shelter, and other assistance, or give coupons to restaurants or grocery stores that can be turned in for food.
2. Donate food to a local agency. Food is usually in short supply at rescue missions, shelters, and other social service agencies. They especially need items such as juices, meats, soups, and stews.
3. Donate clothes such as jackets, sweatshirts, new underwear, socks, shoes, knit hats and gloves which are needed for men, women and children.
4. Donate toiletries such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, hairbrushes, combs, and shaving lotions

"By supporting your local rescue missions you become part of the solution to homelessness, not part of the problem. That's because rescue missions are effectively transforming homeless men and women into productive citizens and successful in promoting personal responsibility," says Rev. Burger. "

Seattle Time’s Editorial:
Bypass the panhandlers to help those in need
Read on...

Meal Tickets
Meal tickets are a great alternative to handing out cash to those who are asking for money. Each ticket is good for one meal at the Mission's Men’s Shelter located in the Pioneer Square. Those coming to the shelter for a meal will be greeted by friendly staff and a nutritious meal. (The shelter serves 3 meals a day, 365 days a year.)

A donation of $20.00 is suggested for a pack of ten tickets. You can mail in your gift with a request for meal tickets to:

Seattle's Union Gospel Mission
PO Box 202
Seattle, WA 98111-0202