I should add that there are occasions when I do contribute money, when no solicitation was made. I shop at a farmers market for peaches every summer, and it is an occasion when one can see the weakness of the WIC (Women Infants Children) supplemental food program. The baskets of fresh peaches aren't included on the permitted foods. Invariably there will be a young mom shopping with small children, who sniffs and admires the peaches, but then has to set them aside, and each year I've paid ahead at the counter and asked the clerk to give them the basket of peaches. The clerks love participating in this and I ask them to not mention it until I'm out of the store. :)

At the grocery store recently I was behind a WIC mom who had shopped so carefully - so many "allowed" things aren't very good for you, processed foods, but she had picked up fresh ingredients, good quality choices to do the cooking herself. She swiped the WIC card and the clerk told her that the system rejected $17 worth of the things she had picked. Her surprised disappointment was clear, and she started to reach into the cart to pick out things to hand back (always a slow operation). I handed the clerk my credit card and asked her ring it up. It was quick - I told the mom that she had made such a great selections in her shopping that I hated to see her not take all of it home.

SRS