‘Tis the season for giving. But how do you know if your giving is going to an authentic cause?
Police say to be extra cautious this season when giving to panhandlers.
"They're gonna pull at the heart strings of everyone passing by,” said Officer Will Akin of the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
An off-duty Clay County Sheriff's deputy warned others through a recent Facebook post after he claimed to have witnessed panhandlers scamming people in Liberty.
His post says he saw a man collecting money from cars near 152 Highway and I-35 while holding up a sign reading “hungry.” However, minutes later the deputy alleges he saw the man meet up with other panhandlers before peeling off layers of clothing and walking into a nearby store with fists full of cash.
It’s the type of scam Akin said they see frequently, especially around the holidays. And not only is it impossible to tell the difference between those really in need and con-artists, but police also urge those willing to give out food to exercise caution because such scammers can be dangerous.
"We don't want anyone to place themselves into danger, thinking they're helping the right people, but then just to turn around to become the victim of a crime,” said Akin. "We've seen it far too many times. And as much awareness as we try to get out there, it still happens."
So what should you give panhandlers?
The best thing to do is to give directly to organizations that help those in need.
"It's far better to help an organization because we really want to provide long term help for people,” said Dan Doty, City Union Mission executive director.
Doty said even giving out gift cards can be risky.
"That kind of thing can even be sold for the wrong purpose and used for bad things,” he said.
City Union Mission shelters at least 350 people every night. Giving to organizations like the mission ensure your money isn’t going towards bad things.
And because it’s impossible to tell between those truly in need of help and those just looking for cold, hard cash, Doty doesn’t normally help those panhandling. He said it also doesn’t make sense considering all the nearby resources available for those in need.
"Sometimes the need is real and legitimate. But, again, you just don't want to hand it out without some awareness of the full situation,” said Doty.
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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com
