Seminole County residents spend Christmas discouraging people from giving to panhandlers

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — It’s not exactly the season of giving for some people in Seminole County.

Frustrated residents decided to make their own signs and spend Christmas Eve telling drivers not to give money to panhandlers.

Residents said they’re fed up with people begging for money on a stretch of State Road 436 at three busy intersections in the Bear Lake area.

They said they feel like panhandlers are taking advantage of hard-working people.

Residents said they believe if people stop giving, the panhandlers will leave.

Annette Sims, who helped organize the whole thing, said she printed the signs to tackle what she sees is a big problem in her community.

“We’re not mean people. We’re not disgruntled people. We’re charitable people. But we like to know that when we give, we give to somebody that’s willing to help themselves,” said Sims.

The signs read that the panhandlers are not truly homeless and that, “They make $400-$800 a week doing this. Please do not give them money and they will leave our neighborhood.”

“Everyone’s been complaining about it and I just got tired of hearing the complaining and said let's do something about it then,” said Sims.

Panhandler Jesse Cope said he can’t work because of an injury and that at best, he makes $30 a day. He doesn’t think the signs will discourage beggars.

“For the people that are out here that consider this a job, I don’t think it’ll change anything,” said Cope.

One driver shouted “shame on you” to the people with the signs.

Some drivers shouted encouraging messages about the effort.

“We’ll stay until dark every day until we’ve got this under control,” said Sims.

Seminole County leaders passed an ordinance this year to crack down on aggressive panhandling.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office said it needed more time to get numbers on how many panhandling complaints it’s received this year.

Organizers of this effort say they plan to come out here through next week

WFTV