How to handle persistent requests

I have a weird situation.  I volunteer for this group that helps out low-income and disabled people.  Most of the people in our program are lovely people, but this one.... not so much.  Anyway, one of our participants is getting married and he is trying to plan this big wedding, even though he lives on disability and has basically no money, and his soon to be wife is unemployed (although not disabled).  So he has taken to emailing everyone in the volunteer group (and anyone's email that he can get ahold of, I suspect) and asking for money to pay for his wedding.  I get almost daily begging/guilt trip emails from him, which so far I have just been deleting.    I am afraid if I respond, it will just set off a whole tirade of responses, and then I will be labelled as the stingy b!tch who wouldn't help the poor guy have a nice wedding. 

I think the whole thing is in incredibly poor taste regardless of his disabilties, but I don't have any desire to get into it with him.  Example:  even though I have been a volunteer and known him for over 3 years, the last time he saw me, he asked for my name, and then my email address.  After I gave it to him, thinking it had something to do with the volunteer program, he then announced he would send me a request to sponsor his wedding.  I mean, the guy doesn't even know my name and he's asking for money!  And though he's in a wheelchair, he is functional in every other way, so it's not like he has a head injury that affects his memory.  I really cannot stand the guy on a personal level anyway, but that is something I have to put aside in light of my volunteer duties.  If it's a close personal friend or family member I would want to help, but I feel no obligation to contribute to the wedding of someone I barely know, and who doesn't seem to know who I am either.  Am I an ogre?

Should I respond and tell him I won't be able to help, or just continue to ignore his emails until the wedding is over?

Only money after all isn't it?  If you can afford it help him, be it five dollars or five hundred.  

you're not an ogre.  it is in extremely bad taste.  i don't understand why they wouldn't just have the wedding they can afford.

i suggest that you either block him or give him five bucks.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

i suggest that you either block him or give him five bucks.

I highlighted what you should do. You do NOT owe this person a single penny, regardless of his hardships. This is ridiculous and I'm getting mad thinking about it.

I love conversations like these, it just skyrockets my already soaring ego. Thanks Spirochete...

Don't give him a cent; what he is doing is in extremely poor taste. Ignore the emails, and don't attend the wedding (like he was intending to ask you - HA!). He should be planning his wedding to suit his budget, not trying to increase his budget by guilt tripping those around him who have already endeavoured to help him.

meh - it's not about owing.  it's about getting him out of your face.  it would be worth five bucks to me.

Then i guess if you didnt truly believe in helping him in the first place you might as well not give since youd be just as immoral anyway... 

Original Post by pgeorgian:

meh - it's not about owing.  it's about getting him out of your face.  it would be worth five bucks to me.

 True, I mean I could spare five bucks, but I also don't want to encourage him.  What happens on their anniversary, or if they have kids or want to go on vacation or something?  Of course, not responding to this probably won't prevent future requests, since he doesn't seem to have any sense of taste or decorum, but who knows.  Thanks for all the responses so far, though!  :)

Have you been smoking the wacky dacky cigarettes today GP? I only ask because you're not making any sense.

Original Post by giggle_puppy:

Then i guess if you didnt truly believe in helping him in the first place you might as well not give since youd be just as immoral anyway...

Hey giggle puppy I need $100 to go to this concert. I'll PM you my paypal address so you can kick in and make my dreams come true.

Naw its just the ethics and morality side of me coming through.  Follow a lot of Kant and Aristotle, or rather created a hybrid version between the two in the basic foundation of moral behavior. 

Truth is im actually in the hole about 450 dollars and i can't spare any.  Or i would take you up on that.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

meh - it's not about owing. it's about getting him out of your face. it would be worth five bucks to me.

Yes, it would be worth $5 but that's not the case. Once someone pegs you for a sucker, you'll get them bothering you ten times worse. That $5 buys you infinitely more harassment.

I wouldn't give him anything.  It's not like it's a family emergency or a medical bill he couldn't help.  This is something he can't afford that he is planning ahead for and is cyber-begging for, from people who are already helping him (volunteering). 

Original Post by giggle_puppy:

Truth is im actually in the hole about 450 dollars and i can't spare any. Or i would take you up on that.

If you truly were a good soul you'd help me out. How do you sleep at night?

Again based on moral guidlines, in this case one of the main ones being, If and only if one can afford to give should one give.  Not to mention since i havnt had contact with you in any "real" way whatsoever i couldn't be morally condemed for refusing to help you, if i so chose to do so.

Send him a link to a site with budget weddings suggestions ;)

Original Post by giggle_puppy:

Again based on moral guidlines, in this case one of the main ones being, If and only if one can afford to give should one give.

Whose moral guidelines?

Since morality is fairly subjective (when it comes to smaller details such as this) my own.

This man pan handling you for wedding funds is absurd.

Fuzzys, don't sweat it, block him, and donate five bucks to an animal shelter.

I'll even match your donation in my town.