Man takes on panhandlers who refused job offers - Cincinnati News, FOX19-WXIX TV

 

MUSCATINE, IA - (WQAD/CNN) - A good Samaritan found out that not everyone who is asking for help, wants help. The man offered two panhandlers a job. What they told him, and what he did next, has gone viral online.

 

Some would call it tough love.

 

“The only way you can ever succeed in your life is, you just got to push yourself and don’t let anyone stand in your way,” said Mike Pothoff, who offered the panhandlers a job.

 

On a corner in Muscatine, you can find panhandlers several times a week.

 

Two are regulars.

 

After feeling bad for the boys, Pothoff offered them a job at his business.

 

“I said, ‘You’re hired,’ and they said, ‘Well, we’re not from around here.’ And I said, ‘Well, you’re here now,’ and then they just smirked,” Pothoff said.

 

Over the weekend, the same boys were back at it, holding signs saying they are broke and hungry.

 

Once again, Pothoff offered them a job. They declined. So Pothoff decided to join them.

 

Pictures captured him standing on the corner with the panhandlers, holding his own sign, which read, “Offered these guys a job. They said no. Don’t give them money.”

 

The picture has gone viral.

 

“All of a sudden, it just went kaboosh,” he said. “I mean, it just blew up.”

 

While Pothoff doesn’t have a problem with panhandlers, he said he wants to make sure they really need the help.

 

“It upsets me that we have younger kids or people that can work that are doing that,” he said.

 

This is not the first time he has offered a job to a panhandler, saying, “I’m hiring down the street. You can work for cash,” only to have them turn the offer down.

 

“It’s about, you know people that really do need money, and maybe they do, but I think they can work, too,” he said.

 

It won’t be the last time, either.

 

“If they’re going to stand out there and hold a sign and ask for money and say they’re homeless, I can hold a sign out there - ‘I offered these guys a job, don’t give them money.’”

 

In Muscatine, people are allowed to panhandle as long as it’s not done aggressively.

 

Copyright 2015 WQAD via CNN. All rights reserved.

I'm shocked, SHOCKED! Someone wanting a handout rather than working for pay? How dare he treat them so badly. He needs compassionate training.

I'm shocked, SHOCKED! Someone wanting a handout rather than working for pay? How dare he treat them so badly. He needs compassionate training.

I could not have said it better myself!

Cheap drugs don't require a FT job.

I wonder what percentage of the panhandlers you see with their "broke and hungry" or "broke down and needing gas" cardboard signs are actually legitimate?

Situations like this are why I do not give money to panhandlers who just stand on a corner holding a sign all day. If they are truly hungry, I will buy them food. If they are cold, I will buy them warm clothes.

 

Now, the guys that play the bongos on the concourse by the Reds stadium, that's a different story! Entertain me and I'll throw you a couple bucks! At least they are working for their money! :lol2:

Had a guy come up to me at Kroger's gas pumps to ask for gas money to get him and his wife and baby home, said his car was out of gas in the parking lot there. I offered to help him push it over and I would put gas in it. He got all mad and stormed off.

 

No, I never help with cash any more.

I wonder what percentage of the panhandlers you see with their "broke and hungry" or "broke down and needing gas" cardboard signs are actually legitimate?

 

I have yet to meet one, seriously.

 

Me and my wife got suckered at a rest stop. The folks even had their kids in on it. Gave them money and what food we had for our trip. Ran into them a few miles down the road, they had a van and were coming out of the gas/store with beer.

I have yet to meet one, seriously.

 

Me and my wife got suckered at a rest stop. The folks even had their kids in on it. Gave them money and what food we had for our trip. Ran into them a few miles down the road, they had a van and were coming out of the gas/store with beer.

 

They make good money working that scheme . Word gets around to other druggies and they begin doing it as well. I'd say a VERY LOW percentage are legitimate.

They make good money working that scheme . Word gets around to other druggies and they begin doing it as well. I'd say a VERY LOW percentage are legitimate.

 

And to use the little kids.......very low.

Years ago I used to see a white van dropping off/picking up people panhandling a Kroger in Cincy. One kid told me he 'worked' till he made $100, sometimes more if it wasn't too hot or cold.