Upscale Beggars?

So last week on my lunch break, I was walking back to work and I see a lady in her 30's I'm guessing sitting on the corner of 52nd and Madison Avenue. She was clean with shorts and shirt on ( clothing looked new), she had a brown paper sack in which I thought was her lunch, and she had a brand new Coach bag. I thought she was sitting/stooping to eat her lunch. As I approached closer, she looked up and says to me "ma'am can you spare some change"? What? With a coach bag? Is this the new reality? Upscale beggars? Is that what a homeless person looks like on Madison Avenue?


I rarely give out money here anymore. If I gave a dollar to everyone who asked I would be broke. Some have even started asking for exact amounts. I have even bought lunch and food for their pets only to have it thrown at me and to be yelled at. I would much rather donate time or money to a charity than to hand out money now. My way of giving back is to volunteer. But I want to know that your helping yourself as well. If I see you at the same spot for 7 years then it's obvious to me that you don't want out of your situation.

Note to beggars on Madison Avenue........ loose the labels honey.