It's odd how I choose to give folks money. For the "Got any spare change?" crowd, most of the time, I say "Sorry, can't help."
One time, I was standing in line at a Subway in an affluent part of town waiting for a sandwich to be made. In walks a grubby kid, maybe 18. He made directly for the garbage cans and started rooting around. The manager told him to "get out of her trash."
He looked up, and said "I'm hungry." All the folks in the line stood there smirking or rolling their eyes.
I told him to get in line with me, and he could order whatever he wanted. I payed for his sandwich and gave him a $20.
Seeing him rooting around in the garbage in plain view of the public really struck a nerve.
There's also a guy I see sometimes right by an overpass on my way home. He makes the coolest magic marker and crayon drawings on scraps of cardboard. I have purchased a few of his drawings; he has never once asked for a handout.
He lives under the overpass.
Sounds maudlin, I know, but...