Does your interest in food impact what you give to the homeless?
In the past few years I've spent a great deal of time in Denmark, which essentially does not have a homelessness problem, so each time I return to NYC, I find the sight of people begging on the street really painful.
When I see these people, it's hard not to give money--that's what they want, right?--but if they have so little, I imagine that they probably go for the cheapest food going. That's GOT to be depressing (yes, I know some of them spend their money on drugs and alcohol, but I doubt they all do), since one of the marginally affordable pleasures is eating well.
So I find myself ducking into the nearest decent bake shop, and getting something nice for them to eat, too... just a change, you know? to make them feel a bit more human.
I know that if food was just fuel to me, I wouldn't have this reaction, regardless of how badly I felt for the homeless, or how much hardship I'd personally experienced.
As fellow people who care about food, do you also find yourselves reacting in a similar way to that which I've described?
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7 Comments:
There are several "homeless" people who I would see almost on a daily basis stand out in my mind when I was growing up. I'm not so sure some of these people were homeless...
One woman that I would always see at the mall near my house would unfold > 1" thick wad of 20s when I'd catch her buying cigarettes.
Another guy at the bus stop on the way home from school would always open up and eat a large can of abalone and drink the juice. Perhaps whole abalone were the only donations available at the food bank...?
This sound heartless, but my obsessive food thoughts do not move me to give money or food directly to those who appear in need. It may have been because of my experiences growing up. The only place I donate money to every year is Hospice, even when I cannot afford it.
Cassaendra at 7:53AM on 03/13/08
I find that if I try to decide what makes someone else feel a bit more human that is has entirely to do with my own issues and not their needs. Look people in the eye and give them what you like or don't like, whether that be food or money or whatever else you feel like giving and they want to receive.
ccbweb at 8:39AM on 03/13/08
'I find that if I try to decide what makes someone else feel a bit more human that is has entirely to do with my own issues and not their needs.'
I'd agree with the point about issues, but I think that perspectives may contribute too (which was why I was curious about SEers responses to this);
after all, someone who is adores clothing is likely to consider not having nice clothes far more of a problem than would someone who thinks of clothing simply as that which keeps you from being arrested for indecent exposure.
mongoose at 8:54AM on 03/13/08
I remember about 15 years ago I was exiting a fancy restaurant in Beverly Hills, CA. Our group was approached by an obviously homeless gentleman who asked for money. Rather than money I gave him my leftovers. One of my friends remarked, "I don't believe you did that." to which I replied, "It was my mitzvah (good deed) for the day". I felt really good about it because I had done something one-on one.
Of course I continue to donate food and money to homeless shelters, etc. But I will never forget that old man who said, "God bless you, sir" as he walked away with my leftover osso buco.
RichardCrystal at 9:33AM on 03/13/08
I have a little different view on the matter. My husband has a lot of contact with homeless people, so he knows who's scamming and conning and who's really mentally ill and who the drug addicts are. He has gone out of his way to buy good food and clean water for for the truely sick and brings it out them. We've eaten dinner at restaurants and he has ordered an extra meal because he saw them outside.
evilchefmom at 10:14AM on 03/13/08
I think I've become very jaded about the majority of homeless people. When I was first on my own, I gave money, fresh food and bottled water to the homeless people near my apartment. The corner of Monument & Thompson always had someone with a sign reading "Anything will help. God bless." Apparently it was a very lucrative corner b/c one day two men were fighting for that spot. Then the local free paper did an article on how much money these people made in a week. I can't remember if it was $700 or $900 taxfree dollars, but that's when I stopped giving them my hard earned money. I also realized that I wasn't helping them, I was supporting their lifestyle.
wookie at 1:55AM on 03/14/08
I feel as if I wasn't clear in my original question, somehow, but what I was actually wondering was, NOT whether or not you gave to the homeless, or whether they deserve it (I think that's too big a non-food discussion to go into in an SE post), but IF, on whatever occasions you did so--even if it was only once a decade or less--IF your appreciation of food made you more inclined to give something in the 'good food' category, instead of/in addition to any cash.
I often DO have reservations about giving to the homeless, in which case, I keep my cash. I know there are heaps of people, particularly the very young, who are silently (and, fortunately, usually only temporarily) hiding the fact that they going without food; when I first want back to NYC, fiercely independent and determined to do things all on my own, I was one of them.
The foodlessness didn't last long, but I quickly discovered that I got through the rough patches in far better form if, instead of being strictly practical and spending my entire food budget on the cheapest staples, I at least bought in-bulk organic products, and splashed out, now and again, for a pastry at a good bakery or pastry shop (Petrossian was a favourite). Because I'd grown up with good food, these purchases kept me feeling connected to what I'd grown up with (and the baked goods made a welcome change from the endless bloody rice).
My main point, though, is that the type of food I eat affects my state of mind; I think it does so particularly strongly for all those who appreciate good food, and that this reveals itself in many ways, including what might be considered charitable donations. And I was curious if others if others agreed or not.
mongoose at 4:16AM on 03/14/08