What is the best way to help people begging on the streets -- give money to them or to charity?many people beg on the streets. do you think that...

In my opinion, donating to local charities is more
effective than giving money to individual beggars.  Here are some reasons for
this:

• Many beggars in the United States are in
  some way addicted to alcohol or drugs.  It is likely that the money that you give them
  will go to purchase these instead of food (which is probably what you want to help them
  with).


• It is likely that many of the beggars you see are
  people who need a lot of help (counseling, education) to get out of poverty and
  homelessness.  If you give them money, they might be able to eat today.  But it is more
  important to give money to charities that will feed them AND will help them gain the
  skills they need to some day get work.