Your well-intentioned handouts could do more harm than good. Some hikers quickly become dependent on outside help, leaving them vulnerable when help isn’t there.
Long distance hikers need to be developing skills, attitudes, and techniques that are necessary when you won’t be around. By reliably supplying bailouts, water, rides, shelter and other hand-holding, you deny hikers the opportunities to learn self-reliance and the skills they may need to complete a long trail.