Out of gas in Murray KY on way to AZ

Didn't read every post so if somebody already said this sorry for repeating it.
How many times have you seen the beggar standing on the middle divider of the lanes with the sign """"" and somebody roles their window down all the way, their purse /wallet open and handing the beggar a few dollars?
All that person has to do is reach in grab your purse/wallet and take off running opposite direction.
Now your stuck in traffic no way of getting the person,,, what are you going to do abandon your vehicle in the middle of the lane ??

I watched one time at a corner a lady rolled her window down and handed a beggar (guy) a McDonald's bag (McDonald's right at the corner) and he appeared to be thanking her , as she drove off , he just tossed the bag on the ground . He wanted cash so he could go get his fix !

There are a lot of churches and soup kitchens and shelters around this area at least for them NOT to be out begging , they just want the money to get their drugs/beer/etc.

There is no good way to know in these cases. There were no family or dogs. He said they had immigrated from Europe 3 years and really spoke Spanish well so making money was hard. He stated his wife and 2 kids were in Phoenix. He had AZ tags.

While I was inviewing the RV owner one guy returned with the guy's gas container full of gas and gave him $5. A woman stopped and gave him $25 Walmart gift card.

While pumping 55 gallons of gas I asked if he had food in the MH. He said no but he was going back to WM and use the gift card for food and sleep there tonight. I came back just after dark about an hour later and it was parked the way you or I would have parked to if we were going to park at WM.

I only know my heart in this matter and am glad he has the means to travel half of the 1600 miles. If he is a con then he will have to answer for that. After talking with him for 30 minutes if he is a con he is a good one. :)

I give every time heart says to.
I gave an elderly Gentleman the last two dollars in my billfold for gas once. he was well groomed, clean new sneakers and so on. I don't remember his story but he was convincing. A month later, fifty miles away, I saw him again asking for money for gas. I figured this is how he fills his car, since that is what he was asking for. I just ignored him. he realized he had hit me once before and he took off.
In Ky a young guy approached us as I was fueling Mh, on the way to funeral or something. I filled his tank with a card, for him. his Wife or Girlfriend was really humiliated, so I guess the gift was justified. I felt sorry for her embarasement.
Getting ready for vacation, I stopped a market for something for wife.
Two guys sitting on a curve looking dehydrated and exhausted. I bought them meals and drinks, from the deli.
They were embarrassed to take it. I started to go to the bank and get some change for them, but got sidetracked. Came back and they were gone.
Some times we can be a blessing to others. Sometimes we get taken.
We hear and see many professional beggars or panhandlers. The prop of using dogs started, around her about five years ago. See the same fellow with two dogs for some time. I know their feet are sore from the hot pavement.
I think he camps some where and walks a few miles to set up shop.
He's not going to get rich around here, except on weekends and holidays when the tourist flock in.
A Hindu family, judging by the red spot on woman's forehead, was at the Wal Mart parking lot with kids and husband. Asking for money for food. I bought them a meal big enough to feed double the four, of them and drinks.
They haven't been back here anyway.
During summers we see one or two instances of families,or group, asking for money to get home, especially Hippies, when Boneroo is on, however the Hippies spell it.
They have money for dope and beer but not enough to get home or where ever they are headed.
People do travel by begging that you would not think would.
I don't understand that.

Many moons ago, I was travelling with my Dad and we saw a homeless person holding a sign that said "Why lie? I need a beer."

My Dad laughed about as hard as I can ever remember and handed him a buck.


I'm in the "giving" camp. I'm well aware that I'm in a minority and that there are plenty of scammers out there. I've also seen the stories about panhandlers pulling in $60K a year.


Giving, or choosing not to, is an intensely personal thing.



Let's not judge those who do choose to give nor judge those who choose not to.

Happy Holidays.

The 7 'P's don't cause me any grief.

I call the local Sheriffs office and let them 'help' the folks OUT

Problem is that the people who really are hard up tend to be too proud to ask. The last time I saw a truly genuine person who was out of luck was a woman with two kids who broke down at a rest stop on IH-35 near New Braunfels (all those have since been torn down due to crime.) This was almost thirty years ago before begging became something accepted.

Here in Austin, it is easy to become very hard-hearted. There is a beggar on every street corner, and someone who will rub a dirty rag on your windshield, then try to bust your mirror out when they realize they are not getting paid. Other towns around Austin just ask people to go get a soliciting/sales permit, which keeps their street corners empty and free of syringes, beer cans, and other stuff. Even the local merchants say to not give -anything- to the beggars.

I once decided to keep out of sight and, with a pair of binoculars, watch a beggar who was packing up. Well with his "lame" leg, he stumbled behind some bushes and walked across the street, magically his leg started functioning again and he was able to ride off on bike that was behind a building there, and a few blocks away, said bike went into the hatch of a new Cadillac.

The second time I realized it was a big act was when I recognized a couple begging for change on a street corner winding up at a steakhouse a few miles away, and snickering how many suckers they get, especially come holidays, busy weekends full of tourists, and Christmas.

My two cents: Give to a good charity like the Salvation Army, or something that actually helps people who truely are in need. Single mothers are not out there, and they are a lot more in need than some hippie who is calling himself a "Vietnam veteran", even though he was probably 5 when the war ended. This sounds harsh, especially at Christmas, but I'd rather see money go to find a single parent a house and their kid square meals and clothes, than to allow some fake to have another helping of filet mignon.

I had some slightly drunk dude ask me for money for gas once so I told him to learn to budget and not spend all his money on booze..

These bums think that anyone driving rv has so much money to help everyone

I don't help the ones who ask for money. But I do help people I see who appear to be hard up, and who aren't asking.

Gale Hawkins wrote:
A guy was at Walmart trying to raise money for gas and food in a class C so some others helped out and I topped off tank. Hoping he makes it to Phoenix.

Sometimes it's a scam, sometimes it's not.

I figure if I help someone and they are lying/faking, it's on them, not me. If I don't help them, I may have turned my back on someone in need.

gbopp wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:
As kind as you were you need to beware that not is all what it seems to be.

I always try to find the good in everything. But. Full-timing over the past years I have seen way TOO many instances of this same scenario. As noted in the above post. There are MANY of the scammers out there getting gas, money and/or food for free.

They are just pan handlers preying on our instinct to help other RV'ers. And they are finding it very rewarding for themselves.

Unfortunately, you are correct. I also have seen many in a similar situation. It is nice to help people, especially this time of year.
And the scammers know it.

I don't mind helping but, I'm very cautious.

Never helped. Maybe I'm a scrouge. but, really, if your traveling a long distance and don't have enough money for gas and lodging, well, 1) you shouldn't be traveling and 2) poor planning doesn't make an emergency on my part.

Around here, according to state police almost 100% of them are scammers. they have money, they have gas in the car. MOre than once I've seen them drive off from a rest stop with an "empty tank" going to the next rest stop, repeat.


Breakdowns? another story. I have helped a few times when it was pretty obviouse a real breakdown. Once was a couple from germany in a rental car (pretty new) that had the front steering knuckle colapse on them. I and a forest ranger made calls for towing and I took them down the road to the campground, and on the way helped another duramax driver with a flat.