Whitby Shores Community Forums

I was off yeterday so I thought I'd get some grocery shopping done with my kids in tow.

Just as I was pulling into the Superstore parking lot in North Whitby, I saw a man with a sign on the corner of the intersection that read " Will work for food. I have three kids at home".

At first it took me by surprise and then it shocked me and then shamed me. I didn't stop, but continued on with my shopping. I didn't know what to do but felt I had to do something. By the time I came out again with my kids and load of groceries to see if he was still there, he was gone.

I've lived in several cities worldwide, and seeing someone with a sign like that wasn't a new sight, but it was a new sight for me seeing it on my own home turf. I know extreme poverty exists in Durham Region - it's not hard to find, but for some reason that image just haunts me. Maybe it's because I have kids now and know how easy it is for a family to be left with nothing due to lost jobs, illness or just circumstances beyond your control.

I'm going to try and see if I can find him again and at least give him money for food or some food, but I know that doesn't solve anything. I just hope that the reason he wasn't there when I left is because someone stopped to help and it wasn't the parking police who made him move.

Coming from Scarborough, we used to see this a lot. I grew up in a very poor family (single dad raised me) and my parents never stood on a steet corner.

Don't get me wrong, poverty is a terrible issue however, I personally beleive that there are much better ways to go about getting the things you need for your family, than standing on a street corner with a sign.

Little ceasers is hiring. So is McDonalds and Wendys. I'm sure that Walmart will be looking for summer staff as well! They may not be his first choice for employment, but if it came down to feeding my family...I would be there.

My husband has been laid off before and I was a sahm. We had to cut back alot and he had to find part time work, but we still managed to do it. I imagine that if E.I wasn't an option, that welfare would be for most (unless they had scammed the system).

Then there is the issue that a lot of the people that claim to be poor and just can't get by, still somehow manage to smoke and drink. That is teh worst. Too see them out there with their sign, begging for food for their family, as they casually puff on their smoke

My dad always tought me to NEVER give them money (unless it was a charity). Otherwise provide them with a warm coffee, or the food that they are looking for. Buy cereals, milk and pasta...something the whole family (including kids) can actually make use of. Make sure it is in going to smokes or beer!

This I have done several times, and sometimes I have even had the coffee thrown back at me It is hard to judge those who are really in need and those who are just looking to take advantage of someone's kindness!

Nan,

this man is there every weekend that i drive by....and I have kids too and it hurts me to see...but there has to be something more valuable with his time than that. Like the previous poster said...walmart and mcdonalds hire and he looked clean enough to apply. i dont mind helping someone but when i see them begging on a street corner it makes me wonder why they arent doing something else to help feed those 3 kids....

Personal experiences,,,,,like a guy getting out of his new car, walking across the road, and take off his baseball cap, and start asking for money,,,,,,another guy carry his wheelchair across Coxwell Ave, by the subway, put it down, sit in it and panhandle. I've seen the guy at Brock and the 401 for three years now, with the sign, "Traveling,, ran out of money,,need food". Another guy in Toronto acting like he is mentally handicapped, doing weird things with his face, to get more money,,,,,and later acting totally normal. Things aren't allways as they appear,,,so beware.

Be VERY careful ... I'm not saying this guy is a con artist, but I have seen it all. Once I tried to give some food instead of money to a pan handler on Bay Street in Toronto and he told me to $%#$% I have never tried again since that day as I was the one degraded. Generally if they had families to feed they are not on the street shaming them. There is a guy who rides around on his bike picking up bottles...same guy for years. Not just standing there with his hand out...doing something. Did the guy with the sign have a bag to pick up garbage or anything? At the end of the day, if the guy had family and no job then we are paying for them anyway. Don't get suckered in.