Since I live in Nashville, I made sure I knew the directions to the Rescue Mission.

Like you said Jeff, when the situation arises we are often caught off guard, and this leads to unwise decisions. So I think we need a game plan… here’s some basic things I thought of:

We need to determine the true need. They always ask for money, but it’s on us to decipher whether they are in need of food, clothing, gas, a bus ticket, or just someone to talk to.

I’m wary about giving money too, so what if we all kept on hand a stash of gift cards – maybe $5, $10, or $20 each – that could be redeemed at places like Kroger, McDonalds, BP Gas Stations. This would take a lot of the guess work out of whether or not they’re just going to use the money for drugs. By buying the cards ahead of time you take the emotional decision out of the equation of giving ‘money’ away.

I think it’s also good to be practical. Maybe we need to go stock up on some sweaters and shoes at Goodwill and keep them in the trunk of our cars. Maybe various canned goods too.

We should also familiarize ourselves with our respective towns. Get to know the area charities – places like Nashville Rescue Mission – and where they are, and how to get there, and various alternatives to send people to when they are in need.

In answer to your question Jeff, I prefer not to give cash to the homeless. But I do feel compelled to give, and the things I’ve listed above are an outline of how I’d like to go about doing that.