Gina Heslop
Ryan Bray, a man known for his kindness and willingness to help those in need, had a peculiar encounter on his way home from work one Sunday. In his neighborhood, he often saw street people asking for money, a common sight. However, this particular encounter left a lasting impression on him.
As Bray passed by a street beggar, he was moved by the man’s plight and decided to offer more than just some spare change. He approached the beggar and proposed a job opportunity at his family business, offering to pay him $15 per hour, with the aim of helping him escape the streets for good.
To Bray’s surprise, the beggar reacted with mockery and defiance. “No way!” the beggar shouted, perplexed by the idea of working for money when people readily gave him handouts. He argued that he earned far more per hour through begging than Bray’s job offer.
Considering increasing his monetary offer, Bray’s intentions were met with hostility. The beggar’s refusal to work appeared to fuel his anger, as he clung to the notion of an easy life where money came without labor.
This encounter left Bray deeply upset, and he decided to take a more aggressive approach. He returned home, crafted a sign, and returned to the same street corner, where he publicly labeled the beggar as “lazy” and admonished drivers not to give money to panhandlers.
This drastic change in Bray’s behavior surprised those who knew him as a generally amiable person. He felt a need to make the beggar question his choices and experience some discomfort.
The homeless man, who remained unnamed, expressed a different perspective to reporters. He claimed that Bray had lied about offering him a job, stating that he only wanted help to escape his life on the streets. He aimed to gradually improve his life through the small contributions he received from the beginning.
Bray, however, remained firm in his version of the story. He believed his offer of employment was genuine and was determined to persuade others to stop giving money to beggars.
In frustration, Bray even made extreme statements about panhandlers in Florida, which he later shared with his neighbors. This encounter left the community divided, with some questioning the best way to assist those in need and others supporting Bray’s stance against giving money to beggars on the street.
