Often, and by necessity, we are suspicious of the stories told by folks who drop by the church office asking for help. The more complicated and compelling, it seems, the more likely that the story is a sham. The punch line is usually the same. "No, I don't want to go to CAST. I just need some money to pay the rent/fix the car/visit the doctor/heat the house." That is, I just need some money to support my addiction.

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