KrispyKritter: jabelar: Honestly, I think things like this (giving away treats) probably do quite a bit for their happiness. In fact, most of my charity is in this vein. I usually have cold soda with me, and sometimes there will be some beggar holding their cardboard sign in the hot sun and I'll give them a soda (occasionally even a beer). I've given beggars chocolate bars, etc.

When you're poor, often these little luxuries are the things you never get. They're not realistically going to get off the street, but at least they can have a little brightness in their day.

// or maybe I'm just a stingy bastard ...
/// but I pay plenty of taxes -- those create a social safety net (right?)

you're a sweet person for doing what you do. bless your heart.

I once passed a so-called needy person when I was going into the mall. I don't mind beggars necessarily, but this guy had his baby daughter in her stroller next to him, which set off my douchebag alert. I didn't give him any money, but I did buy the daughter a cookie. The expressions on both their faces was priceless.

Diogenes: "It's hot, it's summer time and everyone needs a special treat," Salvation Army Area Commander Gene Hogg said in the release.

Unless you're gay.


Sorry, they serve anyone regardless of regardless of sexual orientation. It's not like they ask when you need clothes or food.

I got 48 ice cream sandwiches on dry ice waiting to be handed out to hikers on the Appalachian Trail tomorrow.

Unexpected ice cream is a treat. Someone has gotta do it so others can enjoy it.

/Ethan Pond

vodka: Yeah because sugary treats is exactly the thing you want to give people without toothbrushes


SA distributes toiletries (toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc). Toiletries are often a specific donation request from SA donation drives rather than food actually.

vodka: Yeah because sugary treats is exactly the thing you want to give people without toothbrushes

You don't need a toothbrush when you don't have any teeth.

DrWhy: D) All of the above

This. Job placement help is a primary function of many SA chapters, along with giving away free stuff.

Something tells me subby is rather naive when it comes to charities. It's almost like he has never had anything to do with one. Hmmmm.

ThrobblefootSpectre: Diogenes: "It's hot, it's summer time and everyone needs a special treat," Salvation Army Area Commander Gene Hogg said in the release.

Unless you're gay.


Sorry, they serve anyone regardless of regardless of sexual orientation. It's not like they ask when you need clothes or food.

why would a happy go lucky person need something to make them even happier

Jon iz teh kewl: ThrobblefootSpectre: Diogenes: "It's hot, it's summer time and everyone needs a special treat," Salvation Army Area Commander Gene Hogg said in the release.

Unless you're gay.


Sorry, they serve anyone regardless of regardless of sexual orientation. It's not like they ask when you need clothes or food.

why would a happy go lucky person need something to make them even happier

No matter how happy or gay you are...FREE ICE CREAM.

Digitalstrange: publikenemy: Don't give it to them! They'll only use it to trade for liquor.

People say that to. "Don't give em any money they'll just waste it on booze or drugs. Well thats what I was gonna spend it on. Why am I judging this poor bastard? He's homeless, what do you want him to do? save it up and got to Target for a throw rug and a CD rack?"

No, he should buy health insurance. Duh.

Rostin: You're laying on the smug a little thick there, subby. Something tells me that the average Salvation Army worker does more in a week to help the needy than you have in your entire life. That goes double for everyone whingeing about how they mistreat the gays. By all means, enjoy feeling superior for expressing the right moral opinions on the internet. Meanwhile, all these awful, homophobic Christian charity organizations that "hate" gays will go on helping people.

We were dirt poor growing up. I don't recall any of these organizations offering any assistance. I remember them raising a hell of a lot of money, but I have never witnessed it being put to use. My guess is most of the money is funneled to priest to distribute as hush money and to buy blow with the rest going to Republican causes.

What, no doughnuts? Has the Salvation Army foresaken its proud tradition?

Let me guess: they had ice cream, and didn't have those other things.

publikenemy: Don't give it to them! They'll only use it to trade for liquor.

True story... many many years ago, coming out of a restaurant with my family, this homeless looking guy came up and asked my dad for a few bucks to go buy a bottle of wine. My dad said "I don't have any cash, but if you walk with me over to the gas station, I'll buy you a bottle of wine" (my father was a tad drunk at the time). The guy said no. At the time I thought he was just insane. Looking back on it now, he was probably a professional panhandler.

Blood and Fire.

Look it up.

/The more you know.

But what flavor is it? Boot to the head?

Subby is an asshat.

Salvation Army does the other stuff every day. One of the few charitable organizations that are totally selfless.

Diogenes: Ed Finnerty: Diogenes: "It's hot, it's summer time and everyone needs a special treat," Salvation Army Area Commander Gene Hogg said in the release.

Unless you're gay.

So, no Fudgsicles® then?

I prefer orange creamsicles anyway. Speaking of which, I think there's a nude beach nearby.

I have the strangest Boehner now.

ThrobblefootSpectre: DrWhy: D) All of the above

This. Job placement help is a primary function of many SA chapters, along with giving away free stuff.

Something tells me subby is rather naive when it comes to charities. It's almost like he has never had anything to do with one. Hmmmm.

With a lot of Farkkkers, that's a point of pride.

bgilmore5: Rostin: You're laying on the smug a little thick there, subby. Something tells me that the average Salvation Army worker does more in a week to help the needy than you have in your entire life. That goes double for everyone whingeing about how they mistreat the gays. By all means, enjoy feeling superior for expressing the right moral opinions on the internet. Meanwhile, all these awful, homophobic Christian charity organizations that "hate" gays will go on helping people.

We were dirt poor growing up. I don't recall any of these organizations offering any assistance. I remember them raising a hell of a lot of money, but I have never witnessed it being put to use. My guess is most of the money is funneled to priest to distribute as hush money and to buy blow with the rest going to Republican causes.

3/10

You had me going till the last sentence...

Only people completely out of touch with reality think this is helping homeless people.

While I tend to like give my money elsewhere where the help won't come with a religious message or discriminatory hiring practices and such, I don't fault them at all for the actual work they're doing. I'm in my comfy air conditioned office today and plan to get drunk at a barbeque tonight. I'm not doing anything nice for anyone.I respect folks doing little things to just make today better for someone else. Like how a box of tissues and a dose of dayquil isn't going to cure the common cold, but it'll sure make my day a little better when I've got one and don't have the time, money, or talent necessary to find a cure for the cold virus on my own. Sometimes a problem is too huge and complex for a handful of amateur individuals to fix with a few minutes and a few bucks and good intentions, but doing something is better than nothing.

And it may not be the same in every city, but in my town, the majority of the population served by the Salvation Army, especially the ones living on the streets, aren't folks that just need a more polished resume. Here there's a few homeless who are temporarily out of work, living in motels, living with relatives and friends, getting assistance from food banks and churches, etc. Giving them a job offer or a better resume might be helpful for those and we have organizations (including the SA) that are working on that. But the ones living in the heat on the street here are disproportionately perpetual homeless. Most aren't anyone that anyone would like to hire as they are right now. There's a reason they can't just walk in and take a job at Wal-Mart and crash on a friend's couch until they save up a couple of paychecks for rent. Not that they are beyond being able to get clean, get sober, get mental health treatment, get training, and become able to get hired. But they aren't there yet. Like the "underwear on the outside of the pants" quote earlier in the thread said. There's a lot of homeless here who aren't anywhere near workforce ready. Homelessness and poverty in general is not a one size fits all problem. . It's a complex issue with lots of different causes and different solutions for a lots of different people. But sometimes for today, a solution is out of reach, but an ice cream's not.

redstarr01: While I tend to like give my money elsewhere where the help won't come with a religious message or discriminatory hiring practices and such, I don't fault them at all for the actual work they're doing. I'm in my comfy air conditioned office today and plan to get drunk at a barbeque tonight. I'm not doing anything nice for anyone.I respect folks doing little things to just make today better for someone else. Like how a box of tissues and a dose of dayquil isn't going to cure the common cold, but it'll sure make my day a little better when I've got one and don't have the time, money, or talent necessary to find a cure for the cold virus on my own. Sometimes a problem is too huge and complex for a handful of amateur individuals to fix with a few minutes and a few bucks and good intentions, but doing something is better than nothing.

And it may not be the same in every city, but in my town, the majority of the population served by the Salvation Army, especially the ones living on the streets, aren't folks that just need a more polished resume. Here there's a few homeless who are temporarily out of work, living in motels, living with relatives and friends, getting assistance from food banks and churches, etc. Giving them a job offer or a better resume might be helpful for those and we have organizations (including the SA) that are working on that. But the ones living in the heat on the street here are disproportionately perpetual homeless. Most aren't anyone that anyone would like to hire as they are right now. There's a reason they can't just walk in and take a job at Wal-Mart and crash on a friend's couch until they save up a couple of paychecks for rent. Not that they are beyond being able to get clean, get sober, get mental health treatment, get training, and become able to get hired. But they aren't there yet. Like the "underwear on the outside of the pants" quote earlier in the thread said. There's a lot of homeless here who aren't anywhere near workfo ...

Wow. Looks like Fark saved the best post for last this time. (well, next to last now)