You weren't there. You aren't her. She assessed the situation and it bothered her.

I've been asked for help at a grocery store and then been robbed at gunpoint for my efforts. It happens. So, I personally wouldn't judge her harshly for it.
I'm sorry to hear that happened to you.

Isnt it a shame that people have become so suspicious of one another that we forget how to be humane...have you ever been to a "food shelter"?...generally soup lines have hours of operation perhaps the "food shelter" was closed for the day, maybe she didnt know where it was, maybe she didnt want to subject her kids to that...maybe she thought asking another woman for food would have been more fruitful than prostituting herself so her kids could eat...
I would have given her what I had out of my own groceries and then gone back later to restock...

Thank you. But I really only mention it to answer the question of 'what danger?'. There is a risk and if you felt a bad vibe you did what you should have done. I honestly don't know what I would have done in your situation. I wasn't there. I might have assessed it differently.

wow, Im sure thinking like that makes it easy to sleep with a clear concious..."someone else will help her...." great social conciousness...

As a mother that has been in a bad situation herself, I have asked for food for my kids because too many ppl are scammed out of money and wont give even if you have kids but some at lest will give you a little food. As for the food pantry and soup kitchens--sometimes it's too hard to get your food with too small children in tow. And there are some "unsaviory" types that are there that makes you uncomfortable to take your kids too.

i would have bought them some food. jmo

Well, I am a very empathetic as well as a compassionate person and would feel compelled to help anyone in need. If it were within my capabilities, I would have moved my car to the door of the grocery market and bought staples for at least one good meal and then told her about the local food pantries and any organization that I might be aware of to help people in need.

Unfortunately, you are correct in your worries about this being a possible scam....there are many scams and strange things happening around that you just don't know what to do and still be safe!

At the end of the day; it boils down to you having to live with your decision. We are all different and have been dealt different things in our lives and this may have been something you just couldn't do and be okay with.

I once had a man on the street walk up to my car and ask for money and I asked him if it was for food and he said yes. So I told him I had no money; but me and my son had just been to the Burger King and we gave him our food. He immediately started eating. This type of thing happened a lot in Dallas, TX.

It's really easy for people to say they would have done something differently in this situation... however they were not there.

exactly, i agree

she did what she thought was right and thats all what matters

Thats sad But where did she get the money for gas in her car?

siphon

That happens alot in Las vegas...alot of pan-handling...It's the new thing everyone makes signs ( will work for food, I need beer money, etc. etc.) Does get old after awhile funny thing is alot of them look like they could work...You have to be careful in your situation...

The people who make panhandling a lifestyle bug me. I'm more than willing to help those who actually are down and out. But I truly believe my situation was some type of scam, maybe to steal my car.

I have to agree....

when i was entering a McDonald's store, a homeless person opened the door for me, asking if i could buy him a burger 'cause he's hungry, i did buy him a dollar menu "McChicken"...he thanked me..now that wasn't so bad, i felt better. I made someone not feel hungry.

After a couple of discussions, I think some are misinterpreting what I have said.

All I have said is that if you have a gut feeling that something is wrong and you might be in danger, you shouldn't ignore it. Dae felt something was wrong and reacted to that. And for that reason alone I think she did the right thing.

I really am sorry if the lady really needed help. And I'm certainly not saying that you shouldn't feed the hungry and help the needy. I'm not a completely heartless, stone cold, ungiving, narcissistic glutton. Yet.

I don't know......i would have given her some of what i had just bought. you were just coming out of the grocery store right?........after she left or the next day i would have came back and rebought what i just gave.

your right you never know but i don't take chances when it comes to children........i take it at face value and hope i'm erring on the side of good. JMO

I see what you're saying about it being children and them needing help, but in this instance, I decided to err on the side of caution. I don't know how to say it so people get it, but my gut told me to just say no and leave. I'm not a coldhearted untrusting person. I've given rides to strangers. I've paid for people's groceries at the store before. I give money to people when they ask for it.

I thank you all for your opinions, whether I liked them or not. I did what I felt was right.

By the way, I had only bought a 12 pack of Pepsi.

YET??

Thanks for your support Tnxgl.

well it seems to me your afraid maybe you were wrong.....your never gonna know so don't beat yourself up about it. i guess from now on make sure you have a loaf of bread and jar of PB in your car for such instances..........LOL that way those of us that are judgmental can't beat you up.