A new San Joaquin Country Grand Jury report finds that for-profit donation bins are undercutting local charities and creating a public nuisance.
The Grand Jury report starts with the line "Charity Begins at Home," but many donation bins that collect old clothes and shoes are not for charities but for-profit businesses such as USAgain.
The report notes that the for-profit bins are often placed on private property without permission and many donors are unaware that their donations are not tax deductible.
Grand Jury Foreman Ward Downs says some local charities like Goodwill blame a drop in donations on the proliferation of these bins.
Downs says the biggest concern is that for-profit bins create a public nuisance with graffiti, vandalism and public safety hazards.
"Sometimes you even find homeless people sleeping in them and you find people coming in there and pulling out stuff and leaving stuff scattered and I guess I've heard of some people getting trapped in there," says Downs.
Downs says the report recommends that the county and its cities pass ordinances to regulate the for-profit bins.
Charity Begins At Home
A new San Joaquin Country Grand Jury report finds that for-profit donation bins are undercutting local charities and creating a public nuisance.
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