How much should I give to a busker on the street?

[Matthias]

Whenever I see one, I give to them, but I honestly feel I am giving sweet nothing to them. How much should I give? I can't help feel that no amount is enough... :(

Especially when I see their rotten teeth and old clothes. :sick:

[The Prokeimenon!]

Hey- I had to look up "busker" in the dictionary :blush:

If it means a street performer, as the dictionary says, give generously. These people have more talent in one rotten tooth than almost every pop star has in their whole body. You're not going to beat the entertainment value.

Also, it's like almsgiving. They probably wouldn't be out there if they didn't really need the money. So you can be entertained and give to the poor for a fraction of the cost of a CD.

Moses

[Eusebios]

I agree with MTB, be as generous as you possibly can.
In XP,
Eusebios.
:bow:

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

Well, I kind of thought a busker was like a homeless street person. If this is the case, IMO it would be better to give them food or a blanket or something. I hate to say it, but statistics show that most of them are both mentally ill and substance abusers. Your money may well go to buy another bottle of ripple or a few rocks of crack. This is an unpleasant, unromanticized reality.

This is just MHO. I would give a few bucks to a street musician, but an offer to buy them lunch would be even better because then you could sit down and talk with them. It's easier to just toss them some cash, but since when is easier better?;)

[entropy_rising]

I think it's awesome that you actually bother to give something. Most people don't even go that far.

[Akathist]

Even street performers may be using that money to buy drugs. Where I live there is no street performers so it doesn't come up for me often. I have on occassion helped out a person who was asking for money on the street. I go to the nearest store (or gas station) and buy a bottle of water and some at least semi-nutritious food (my favorite is breakfast bars) and I take it back to them. I also direct them to the nearest shelter and sometimes talk with them for a while, just being friendly.

I have had people approach me for "spare change" and I also try to engage them into a conversation and am friendly but I don't give them any money.

However, I would encourage people to contact local shelters and find out what their needs are. The local one here in this city gives out toothbrushes and toothpaste and deoderant and has showers with soap and shampoo. They need these items as well as towels and underware and socks. (They say that most of the people there should just be throwing away the underware and socks they have been wearing and these items are hard to get at charity stores.) If you want to give cash, give donations to the shelter so they can buy toilet paper and pay the electric bill, etc.

Also, never throw away clothes that you don't need. Take them to the local shelter if they will take them or at least to a charity shop.

Women's shelters always need toys and children's books as well as diapers and the usual things like clothes and food. Women shelters also need old cell phones. (With chargers. Almost all cell phones when charged will still dial "(911 for emergencies.)

Giving to the poor is very important. But please consider not giving cash. So often cash is used for drugs and and alcohol and cigarettes and not for food, clothes, toothpaste, etc. If you want to give cash, donate directly to shelters.

I wish more churches would have charity drives. Hm.... I am feeling inspired... this is the perfect time of year for a charity drive because so many of them are at Christmas time.

[mrsilent]

Whenever I see one, I give to them, but I honestly feel I am giving sweet nothing to them. How much should I give? I can't help feel that no amount is enough... :(

Especially when I see their rotten teeth and old clothes. :sick:

this is one to think about;give them what they need,and what they need the most first{hint;not all you can give costs money}

[ExOrienteLux]

I think when I go back to my parish at school, I'm going to ask them about maybe organizing a food/clothing/money drive every Lent, since that's when we, as Orthodox, should be doing more for the poor and needy.

Thanks for the idea, thorny.

His sinful and unworthy servant,
Josh.

[Moros]

The best thing to give your street person is a job application rather than a few bucks. Whenever a homeless asks me for spare change, I tell them who's hiring.

[Oblio]

I will usually give spare change, dollars these days as a quarter won't buy much. Knowing that we sometimes entertain Angels unawares, I let God judge them if they misuse that which was given in faith and love to them. I would rather not stand before Christ when He asks why I did not give to His child and I reply that I thought he was buying cigs/booze/drugs. Much more would I rather explain why I gave as He commanded even though I did not know what he would do with the gift. God knows our hearts. My 2 kopecks.

[Matrona]

I usually give any spare food or water that I might have on me. If someone is homeless and struggling with the temptation of drink, I don't want to add to that. There is a homeless man I sometimes see digging through my building's dumpster for food. If I see him when I take down my garbage, I usually run upstairs and pack him some lunch. He never speaks to me but he always takes it.

[Matthias]

I've found a lot of the buskers are more friendly than anyone I've met; online or in person.

[Moros]

That's because they want your money.

[Matthias]

Hmmm. That's true.