Hi! It's Molly Hahn on the Foundation staff. Regina is on vacation this week, and I just couldn't let this incident pass by without comment. It was noted on the Foundation's Facebook page a few days ago.

Thanks to WISH TV's investigative team, we're learning that panhandling with children in tow has been found in other areas of the country as well as here in Indianapolis. While this may be a sign that people are really getting desperate, we also need to keep in mind that in this year's local homeless count, none of the panhandlers at area interstate exits were truly homeless. A handful fo passive solicitors in downtown Indianapolis were homeless. (Check out www.chipindy.org for more information on this year's street count). Almost all of them are choosing to panhandle as their job, and because they play on our emotions with children or various sign messages, they are succeeding.

Do your part: do not give money to panhandlers. Encourage them to get help at area shelters instead. To find out more on the WISH TV investigation, click here: http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/i_team_8/i-team-8-investigation%3A-panhandlers. Just as interesting as the story itself are the blog comments posted there.