To the editor:

Dec. 19, while parked downtown, I witnessed a man walk down the sidewalk and stop between Ernst and Son Hardware and the Lawrence Antique Mall. He opened the lid of the box he was carrying and set it on the ground. Written on the lid was “need job, need help, merry x-mas.”

I saw a woman give him money and then, several minutes later, a man gave him money which he put in his pocket. When there was a break in the pedestrian traffic, the man would get up, go down the alley a little way, pull the money out of his pocket, count it and move it to another pocket then come back and sit down.

Two young boys were walking down the sidewalk. One of the boys saw the box, went over to it, reached in his pocket and put some change in. When the coast was clear the beggar went over to check his prize the young boy had left in the box. To my shock and disbelief he picked up the box and emptied the coins to the ground, cursing, then set the box back down and had a seat waiting for more money. As I sat in my truck my anger was rising, thinking those two boys did nothing to the beggar or to disrespect him, just gave him some change.

My money will never go to a beggar; my money can be better utilized and distributed through the Salvation Army or United Way or even a friend in need.