Any sick or injured stories and I'll offer to call an ambulance. Offered 3 or 4 times with no takers.
Any hungry/homeless stories and I'll offer to buy them food at the nearest fast food joint. Offered at least 6 times with no takers and one "F--- you."
On two separate occasions, I have heard honest stories. Both were back in the 80's.
Working at a fast food restaurant, I saw a lady with a sign saying, "Homeless. Need food." We went out to find out her story. She said her kids needed to eat and, sure enough, she had a van full of kids. She didn't want handouts, so we had her do some cleaning while we fed her kids, then sent her on her way with enough burgers for the next day.
The other time, I was working a late-night shift for a vending company, pulled into a convenience store and a young lady came up and asked for a ride. She mistook the company logo for a cab logo. She told me she had been 'dropped off' by her friends in a not-so-great part of town. When I told her I wasn't a cab, she started to walk away. I offered to pay for a cab ride for her and she took me up on the offer.
Nowadays? I'm far too cynical to believe most stories.
Even today at the Patriot's Day celebration at the Statehouse, a guy came up to the crowd, had 2 quarters in his hand and asked each person if they had a dollar so he could catch his bus. No one had any cash or coins to give him. So sad.
I watched him the entire time (we were just 100 feet from the bus stop) and no one gave this guy any money. I still don't understand how he managed to board that bus.
