Help the hungry or turn away???

Today as I was getting into my car after making a deposit at the bank, I smiled at a man. Who then came up to me and asked if I could help him out and buy him some groceries. I politely told him no but told him to have a great day and got in my car and drove away. I saw him in my rear view mirror ask 2 other people who also turned him down.

I found myself wondering... Was I too harsh? Was this man and his family really hungry or did he want money for something like drugs or alcohol? It's definitely not the first time I've ever been approached by a homeless or hungry man. But I always feel guilty after for not giving anything. Isn't guilt there for a reason to tell us when we need to do something differently?

You always hear stories of news reporters going under cover and watching these men stand outside for long hours to walk to a nice car and drive home to a big beautiful home. And it makes you wonder is this man really hungry? But is it right to judge them? Should I have driven to the store and bought him some food? Or walked back inside the bank to get some money?

What is the right way to handle this situation??

I don't know but I have always wondered about this ever since I was a little girl. I would cry when we drove past them as they stood on the sidewalk with cardboard signs. I always felt so bad that they were hungry and homeless. I always wondered if they had children who were cold and hungry on a sidewalk somewhere. But I don't ever remember a time I actually gave them some food or money.

I felt guilty getting back into my air conditioned vehicle with a full stomach after eating lunch with Billy. And driving home to a comfy, homey house.

Any thoughts on this,....how do you all handle it when they ask you for food or money????