Begging messages seem to go the same way nowadays.
OP: Sob story about why they're short and they're asking for assistance not money/goods to help
Replies of practical help interspersed with a few deleted messages where people have said be careful. And people getting indignant about people saying be careful.
MNHQ putting out their standard message about not giving more than you can afford.
More advice and a few people beginning to offer things.
MNHQ zapping the thread (some of the time anyway).
The problem I see is that even if they're genuine, they encourage non-genuine people who think they can get stuff from kindhearted people for free.
Would it perhaps be possible to have a thread with general advice for people in that situation as the advice is similar for most people. Then maybe create a page with all the advice on it, with weblinks for things like CAP etc.
Then when a standard begging thread comes in, it can be locked and linked to the page/thread.
Obviously if there's a specific question then you can't do this, but mostly it's the same advice needed.
It would have the double effect of giving the advice quickly, which if someone needs help that is good, and discouraging people who are trying to get stuff because if the threads are locked then there won't be "Pm you" or "I can offer..." making it look tempting (and any replies like that could also be deleted.)
I think currently it makes it hard for someone who genuinely needs advice to ask as they know they'll be pounced on for begging.