Almgiving

[Theodora Elizabeth]

OR you could just take the money along with you in the car and distribute it as you come across someone who needs it. It really depends upon the situation. I invented a little homemade "alms box" for my house during this past Great Lent, and I just throw my spare change in there when I get home at the end of the day. It's not always the same amount, but it averages out. It's not completely full yet, but it's getting there I figured I would just take the proceeds down to a Coinstar machine or something, and then either buy food for people or give it to them. My Spiritual Father has advised me to rule in favor of food or clothing, just in case the person might want to spend the money on something harmful to his or herself.
Oh, and if you want to know how to make your own low-budget alms box, just order a box of tea from the monks of Vashon Island, WA (PLUG!) and once you've finished the outstanding tea (I prefer Father Paul's Assam), saw a slot big enough for a quarter in the top of the box, and BAM! you have a little alms box. I think that this might be a good idea for kids, too, because it gives them a creative way (they can paint it or decorate it or something like that) to participate in virtuous activities. But I'll get back to you once I've tried it on mine (the first one won't be here until September ).

Justin ~

I live in the BIG city! :shock: You do NOT give money out to people! I've even had people refuse FOOD I offered them (like a banana or an extra sandwich from lunch I didn't eat). I even asked my priest about this some time ago. He said that if someone wanted a meal, they usually know where they can get one, but they usually want the money for booze, smokes or worse.

Just checked the monk's site for tea. Temporarily out! Very happy to see they have Earl Grey! I'll check back in a month or so, and see if they have it back in. Like the look of the box...good for little trinkets, too. I ordered a censer gift set from Holy Cross Hermitage in WV. It came in this little crate the monks had made. I now use it to hold CDs.

Theodora Elizabeth

[Schultz]

I live in the BIG city! You do NOT give money out to people! I've even had people refuse FOOD I offered them (like a banana or an extra sandwich from lunch I didn't eat). I even asked my priest about this some time ago. He said that if someone wanted a meal, they usually know where they can get one, but they usually want the money for booze, smokes or worse.

Living in Baltimore and working in Washington, DC, I come across alot of people begging on the street and I've actually found that you can actually come across people who will accept food or clothing if you keep an eye out. There's one gentleman who, when I end up going to Wendy's for lunch, gladly accepts a meal from me; it's almost like he knows that I'm going there that day because he's always there when I end up at Wendy's but not there when I just walk past it to go somewhere else.

If you're used to living in the city and have enough street smarts, you can usually pick out the "honest" beggars and help them accordingly.

[Justin2]

Theodora, I completely understand. My Spiritual Father said the same thing to me. If you make your policy flat (as in clothing and food only), then you don't have to slip into the dangerous arena of "sizing" someone up when they ask you for a handout. Being in the Army, I already have the convenience of CFC (Combined Federal Campaign) which (thanks be to God!) has IOCC in it as one of the options, so my family painlessly donates a small bit of the monthly income to something we know is Orthodox. Another good idea, in lieu of almsgiving is to contribute towards food, or even work in a homeless shelter or a soup kitchen-type place. I don't know if they have something like that here in Monterey, but I don't have a lot of time for it, either. I know what you mean about homeless or poor folks not wanting to accept food. I think it's a pride issue more often than a drug one, but I could be wrong. Anyway, good luck!