Watch for them pulling multiple cards out, but keep in mind that many people will respond with hostility at the offer of financial help.
You’re better off donating that money to a local food bank. Some stores around here also have pre-bagged meals that you can buy for them to donate to those in need, but the food bank will be able to stretch your money further.
You’re better off donating that money to a local food bank. Some stores around here also have pre-bagged meals that you can buy for them to donate to those in need, but the food bank will be able to stretch your money further.
I do that too, but the local largest food bank has conditions that don’t make it preferable for monetary donation. I would really prefer anonymous donations, and that isn’t easily possible with my food bank. They do not accept cash. Also, I would ultimately prefer my donations to go directly to the people that need it without administrative overhead shaving off percentages.
On multiple occasions I went to the food bank and handed out cash to patrons that were in line waiting for food. No strings, no obligations, just give them a friendly wave and hand them bills before moving on to the next car. I know people are in need if they’re at the food bank, and I trust they know how to spend the cash better than I do, so I give cash. The food bank asked me to stop doing that.
If you see them in the aisle and they pick up and put down similar products and are carefully looking at prices and quantity for comparison shopping. Perhaps carrying coupons. Adding up items in their cart and possibly setting things aside (even if just in the top basket) to see what they can afford before committing. Buying a number of inexpensive basics - lentils, cheap ramen, items from the “we’re ugly” vegetable bin (that’s what they call it at my store). Perhaps someone who is clearly juggling kids, and is stressed and overloaded while trying to focus on figuring out what to buy.
None of these are “guarantees,” but just some ideas.
If I’m at the grocery store and I want to pay for someone else’s groceries, what are clues I could see indicating that they are deeply in need?
Watch for them pulling multiple cards out, but keep in mind that many people will respond with hostility at the offer of financial help.
You’re better off donating that money to a local food bank. Some stores around here also have pre-bagged meals that you can buy for them to donate to those in need, but the food bank will be able to stretch your money further.
I do that too, but the local largest food bank has conditions that don’t make it preferable for monetary donation. I would really prefer anonymous donations, and that isn’t easily possible with my food bank. They do not accept cash. Also, I would ultimately prefer my donations to go directly to the people that need it without administrative overhead shaving off percentages.
On multiple occasions I went to the food bank and handed out cash to patrons that were in line waiting for food. No strings, no obligations, just give them a friendly wave and hand them bills before moving on to the next car. I know people are in need if they’re at the food bank, and I trust they know how to spend the cash better than I do, so I give cash. The food bank asked me to stop doing that.
If you see them in the aisle and they pick up and put down similar products and are carefully looking at prices and quantity for comparison shopping. Perhaps carrying coupons. Adding up items in their cart and possibly setting things aside (even if just in the top basket) to see what they can afford before committing. Buying a number of inexpensive basics - lentils, cheap ramen, items from the “we’re ugly” vegetable bin (that’s what they call it at my store). Perhaps someone who is clearly juggling kids, and is stressed and overloaded while trying to focus on figuring out what to buy.
None of these are “guarantees,” but just some ideas.
I look closely at labels and quantities, etc…but I also look at quality, made-in-my-country-ness, etc.
I don’t need anybody to buy my groceries. I might even politely decline because someone could use it more.
The other signs sound spot-on, though.
they pull out their phone in the aisle and start using the calculator.