This is a sweet and touching story, and I'm glad to know it turned out well for you and the man. However, our neighborhood watch organizations warn us not to open the door to strangers. Unfortunately, not all can be trusted, and there have been some ugly crimes. A person will knock on the door asking for work or to use the phone, and then two more will rush in from around the bushes and the homeowner is robbed or worse. Be careful, everyone. I know most people are descent, honest and hard working, but if you don't consider the possibility that someone may be otherwise, you and your family could suffer serious consequences. I have been more cautious and less trusting since neighbors across the street were burglarized. The man in your case could have left a note in the door offering to do the work and explaining the situation, and you could respond to that as you see fit. A lot of grocery stores have bulletin boards where people seeking this type of work can post their phone numbers. There are charity organizations and churches that are equipped to help desperate people. I'd rather donate to a food pantry that I know will use it properly than to a person who might just as well have taken the money and bought a bottle of booze, in which case it would have been no favor to him.