Opinion ... "Donate to organizations that help the homeless"

Courtesy Photo

• Panhandling is a big business in Midland; it doesn't have to be

By Karl Boroski, Contributor
• Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Every weekend, Backyard Midland feeds and visits with the homeless. I go out on Sundays, and other friends go out on Saturdays. We feed about 30 on the street every weekend.

Midland doesn’t have a homeless problem. The only problem is for the 30 sleeping on the street.

In Midland, we have organized panhandling, and most you see on the corners and intersections are not homeless. They are individuals that I refer to as “Panhandling Pimps,” who have several people working for them. They basically drop off and pick up their workers and get half of what their workers collected.

When I go out feeding, one stop is the southside Wal-Mart parking lot, where there are several people living in their cars. One Panhandling Pimp watches over his people that work the intersection by the McDonald’s. I was told that intersection can make up to $400 a day. I also know of another group that has three or four ladies who will be dropped off at different intersections with the same sign. Their signs state that they have kids and need rent money and food. This has turned into big business for them and that is why they do it. The real homeless I know do panhandle, but when they get enough for their beer, cigarettes and food, they are out of there.

If you really want to help the homeless donate to a local organizations like Breaking Bread, the Baptist Crisis Center or the Soup Kitchen. As long as there is easy money out there, we will continue to see people taking advantage of the generosity of Midlanders.