08 December 2010

I Have a Question

So the doorbell rings a couple of nights ago, and there's a kid about the age of Macauley Culkin in the first Home Alone movie*.  He's just standing there. I had to ask what he wanted, and it was this: "Would you like to donate to help the needy children?"

I inquired further; he didn't know the name of the organization gathering the funds. He has no brochures or paperwork of any kind. No donation bag, box, clipboard, envelope or even a tootsie roll bank.

Meanwhile, some older person sat in an idling car, a hundred feet away. So ... it's one kid, by himself, without support, and without a clue. The poor boy probably went home empty-handed, wondering why no one would contribute.


I felt sorry for him, but not enough to hand money to a young child for no good reason. What kind of supposed grown-up would send a young child door-to-door to ask for money, without at least telling the kid what it was for?**




*He resembled the Home Alone kid, too, but that's another story.

**Someone looking for a free hand-out, I suppose, but those things usually make the next morning's news, and nothing's been said about this one.

6 comments:

The Farmer said...

Answer: A lazy parent. Even for one running a scam. And if it wasn't thats to bad.

Mo said...

Sad commentary on our society.

GUYK said...

scam probably. I probably would have offered the kid an ice cream bar and then sent him on his way

joated said...

Should have called the authorities to see if any canvassers were to be out and about. If not to report this kid being "used" by whoever was sitting in that car.

Meadow said...

Hey, Rev. Paul, how about making up a sheet with directions to Beans and/or the homeless shelters in Anchorage?

This kid is being taught to expect something for nothing, and while he may not have a choice at this moment, he will later. What will he choose?

You could also 'hire' him to shovel snow or something similar in return for payment. He would have to come back to do the work. You would then see if he is willing to work for money or food.

But, this is just me and how I would do it.

Teresa said...

It could have been a scam but no one called it in because it was a little kid being the front "man" so to speak. Good grief!