Here’s a question for you.

If you see someone claiming to be homeless and hungry, will you try to help?

Will you give a few dollars or will you hurry by, pretending not to see him?

When that question was asked at a meeting of our church women, I was surprised when most women said “Never.”

Of the 60 women in attendance, only two said they would help while one said she “might” help.

Most of the women had strong feelings about the question. In addition to being adamant about never donating to a beggar, a few of the women said they were angry with anyone who donated money.

“It’s only encouraging these guys to keep begging instead of working,” said one woman. She talked about guys begging for money while they are standing in front of several stores with help wanted signs in the window.

“Businesses of all kind are having a hard time getting workers,” she said. “Anyone who wants a job can certainly find one.”

Another woman said there might have been a time when jobs were hard to find but that certainly isn’t the case now.

“Businesses are the ones begging,” she said. “They are begging for the workers they need to keep their businesses open.”

She cited several popular restaurants that are no longer open for lunch because they don’t have enough workers.

The general consensus of the group was that anyone able bodied and homeless should work, not beg.

I must admit I was truly surprised at their reaction. These ladies are part of a church group instrumental in helping the poor. That very afternoon many of them were participating in the St. Vincent de Paul Walk for the Poor, raising money to help that organization aid the needy. Last weekend they had a rummage sale to help those in need.

These are good, giving women. I would not expect them to be so uncharitable toward beggars.

The speaker who brought up the question of whether or not to give money to a homeless person said she tries to keep a $5 bill in her purse and also keeps one readily available in her car in case she is approached while driving.

“I brought up the question of giving money to the homeless because I’m aware that so many of us make judgment calls about others. We say someone could work if he wanted to without knowing whether or not that’s true.

“We don’t know what’s going on in someone’s life just by looking at them,” she said, “and who area we to judge?”

That seemed to raise the ire of a few anti-homeless opponents. They told the speaker it’s an attitude like hers that’s responsible for ripping off those who give money to the beggars.

Francis said she would rather get taken advantage of by a fraud than to let one person in need go hungry.

I agree with her.

No matter how much I grumble about the price of food I can still afford to eat. We all have our favorite charities. Mine is helping to support the organizations that feed the poor.

I consider it a blessing for me when I have a chance to help a truly needy person.

When I was hurrying to my car outside a supermarket there was a guy with a dog standing outside the battered station wagon next to me. He told me his car won’t start and his friend that was supposed to pick him up never showed. He asked me if I had any water for his old dog.

It was obvious he had no money.

I went to the fast food place on the corner to get water for the dog and lunch for him.

If I have a choice I try to help by buying food, not giving money. My husband is the same way. He would never give to a beggar but he’s fast to buy food for anyone in need.

Once when we were walking into a local buffet there was a guy outside asking for money. David said he wouldn’t give him money but he took him inside to buy him dinner.

We can’t solve the world’s entire hunger problem, but by darn we sure can feed a hungry person when we get the chance.

I have to admit I did get ripped off this week when I gave money to a guy with a sign playing an accordion. He had a sign that said “Homeless - Help me feed my five kids.”

I had my reservations about that but I wish I could help all the homeless people.

The container for the money was a big, solid wooden box with a small slit and there was obviously something off about it all.

A day later a similar situation took place outside a grocery store, with a young woman expertly playing a violin. Exactly the same type of setup and money box. My husband said the sophisticated sound system was well over $1,000.

There was nothing poor about her. A scam is obviously operating in our area.

All that makes people less likely to help the homeless. That’s a shame.

I will go on supporting authentic charities that help the poor and the homeless. But maybe I need to be more cautious about street peddlers.

What about you?

Contact Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net.