Better to buy food for panhandlers

Dear editor: I have been reading the letters about people who are opposed to the City of Kelowna giving out fines to folks who donate to panhandlers.

I, for one, am against people panhandling and shoving cardboard signs into my face, every time I go out, as is the case at the entrance to Costco from Baron Road. This city needs to be cleaned up of panhandlers.

They want your money (not food), and the other day as I was trying to exit the Costco parking lot on Baron Road, there was a vehicle that pulled up giving something to the panhandler, who is there all the time, and she was blocking the traffic from exiting the parking lot.

The food bank is there for groceries and I have donated to that many times.

As for the people on Kirschner near the recycling depot, if you don't want your money back for your returned bottles, etc., there is a large bin inside of the building where you can put your refundable bottles and the money goes to registered charity.

The other day I was downtown on Bernard Avenue and I saw a young fellow laying on a bench.

I went into the Safeway and got the people at the deli counter to make a nice sandwich and I bought a cup of hot chocolate and took it out to the young guy. He thanked me and told me he was 18-years-old.

I felt very sorry for him and talked to him for a while and listened to his story.

I am not an insensitive person at all and do feel sorry for the homeless, but the more you encourage them and give them money, etc., the less they will reach out for help.

I hate to see them taking drugs and ruining their lives. I won't give them money that will go to feed their drug habit. Judith Wagner

Kelowna