I live in S. Florida and there is one, sometimes several, at virtually every intersection. It gets very annoying and you cant tell the ones who really need it from the ones who just want a fix. Some however are so drunk theyre falling off the medians.
I get off work at 5:30AM and went to the Mobile to get gas next to where I work and I was the only one there aside from whomever was inside at the counter. There was a black guy in a hoodie leaning against the building near the door so I went to the pumps on the other side. Soon as I got hooked up, here comes this fairly young, obviously able bodied guy in the hoodie around the side of the building, with his face shadowed and his hands in his pockets... towards me. Im freaking.... He says "Hey...can ya help a brotha out?" And then I was mad. I said "Are you CRAZY?? How bout you come to MY house and pay MY bills and take care of MY kid's needs? I just came from working for eight hours and I suggest you go TRY IT!" And damned if he didnt stand about 15 feet away from me the ENTIRE TIME I was pumping that gas. I didnt know what he was planning on doing. I got half the gas I intended to get and got back into the car. I drove to the other side of the station LOCKED THE CAR and went in to the clerk. I said "There is a person LURKING outside this gas station who just scared the HELL out of me and if you are ALLOWING him to do that then Im never using this station again as long as you do! And I GUARANTEE you he is scaring away any other female customers you might be getting!" I didnt allow him to even answer.
I give TONS of things to the Salvation Army and Good Will here. I give food to food banks to make sure it gets to people who need it.
