Please keep the change

I always see them on my way to the office. They gather at the crossing under the traffic lights and when it's time to stop, they go to your car or to the car beside you. They call your attention by tapping your window and making innocent eye to eye contact. They hop from one car to another until someone spares or sometimes throws them a coin. If you travel long and frequent enough, you'll notice they don't get richer or improve their lives, they just simply multiply.
Yes it's too tempting to give because we're just too blessed and they're just too unlucky. It's a heartbreaking sight to stare at poverty in the eyes of a needy grandmother. It's heartless to see children and persons with disabilities beg for help and you just walk away. And it's really hard to say no. Believe me, I have had my share of those moments when it's nearly impossible to leave them there.
But I always keep the change. I have always believed that giving money to beggars is the least generous thing I can do. Yes I know they are young, too young even, they're old, too old even. But I still keep the change. The urge to give back to the unfortunate and give them something are very basic human response and it's not bad. Compassion is a wonderful trait. Mercy runs deep in Filipino culture. But there are better ways to share your blessings.
If we drop a coin in a beggar's hand, there’s a very big possibility that we’re actually helping organized criminals who will in turn get more children or forced more children to do the deed for them and encourage the vicious cycle thus putting more children in danger. Yes you can say we can never be sure if the beggar is a victim of organized crime but we can always be sure that it will bring more harm than good. If they are really in dire need of help, they need more than money, they need food and guidance -- the children need parents or someone to take care of them and shelter, old people need food and a place to rest, persons with disabilities need food and shelter and job, and the others need direction and shelter and job. Giving does relieve our guilt for a short period of time but the root cause of poverty will never be solved. It's just transitory and not a long-term solution.
If you really want to help, you can buy what they sell, we usually buy the rags or the Sampaguita, it gives them pride and you know that they are just like you and me, they are working hard to survive. Or you can give them food and water to ease their hunger. Or you can donate to legitimate NGOs or charitable institutions, you can sponsor a child or adopt a child, you can send them to schools, you can bring them to a proper institution where they can have real and lasting help. Find a creative but responsible way to help them. Be generous but also be a responsible giver.
And please keep the change.
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