About a year back I went to the new Gateway mall in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is an outdoor mall in Downtown Salt Lake, don't ask me why Utah of all places has an outdoor mall, considering it snows here. But anyway back to the topic. The mall is near a few clubs, studio apartments that are overly priced, and the homeless shelter. As I was walking back to my car after shopping a homeless woman approached me asking me for money so she could go into rehab. At first glance I saw this toothless, weathered lady who looked like she may have been 65, but was probably in her mid forties. Of course the aging was because of previous drug use, which may or may not have still been occuring. When she asked me this I thought, "Oh this lady could use some help."
I remembered recent converstations with various friends about some people who dress up in tattered clothing going around on street corners asking for a hand up and don't forget the money. I thought to myself maybe she was one of these people, but by the look of her skin and teeth I knew she was not. I knew she had had a hard life, but I am not the type of person to just trust someone when they're asking for money. I feel like you need to work for what you want. Since I previously thought this woman may still be using drugs there was no way I was going to give her money. Instead I asked her if she wanted something to eat instead. Of course she said yes.
There was a Rumbi Island Grill right behind me so I went in and ordered her some food. I invited her in with me, but she refused, she said she could wait outside for me because "they don't like her inside the resturant."
After gathering about fifteen dollars worth of food I walked out of the resturant and the woman came up to me thanking me. I said that she was welcome and went on my marry way.
About a week later I was talking to my friend who happened to work at Rumbi Island Grill. I told her what I did and how good it made me feel. She told me that she knew the woman I was talking about, and that she greets a lot of people at the Mall asking them for money and food. And then I thought about the statement the homeless woman said when I invited her into the resturant with me, "they don't like me inside the resturant."
I felt so used.
There are so many ways you can help homeless people besides giving them money or buying them expensive meals. You can donate to the homeless shelter, and the food bank. You never know who has already gotten a hand up that day, or who may be using you. Some people are so lazy. I work hard for what I have, I don't even give my friends money, and I don't understand why I helped that woman.
From now on I am sticking to strickly volunteer work. It is my time, but not too much money.
My tip of advice is becareful for who you're giving a hand out to. Who knows, maybe they've already made thousands that week in cash, and had every meal paid for by complete strangers.
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