When we were in Maui there were a lot of panhandlers in the lot at Costco specifically asking for money to get gas to be able to drive home to where they lived. They seemed clearly to be a scam or some sort of other to me. I know that gas is expensive in Hawaii, that’s why we along with many others were at Costco where it is cheaper than other places.
Here in NYC I encounter many panhandlers every day. Occasionally I will give someone $1.00 for a cup of coffee when I am getting one myself from the food cart where I get coffee or have offered to give someone my apple or a granola bar but I know that these are professional panhandlers who come to their respective corners every day in a van. I’ve seen them dropped off. The ones who ask for money for train fare I usually share that the police will help them with a fare pass if they drop by the precinct in the train station. I know as I have had to do that myself when my wallet was taken from my bag on the Madison Avenue Bus (according to the police the #1 location for pickpockets in NYC) and the police were very helpful once I filled out my stolen wallet report.