We’ve all seen them: the donation bins that sit at seemingly every corner, in the parking lot of some shopping center, inviting well-meaning donors to deposit their unwanted clothing and shoes, with promises of putting those donations to good use.
Though the intentions are pure, the attempts to help more people become good samaritans are becoming a nuisance. The bins, which have been around for years and have multiplied in number, are often found overflowing with not only clothing and shoes, but toys, boxes, shelving, mattresses, and even old televisions.
The City, acting upon the complaints of residents and business owners in the area, is cracking down on the use of these bins, passing an ordinance that requires someone to be onsite to oversee the proper use of the bins and ensure that they get emptied regularly. The ordinance means that unattended bins in large parking lots are now unlawful, but would not affect those that sit on the property of the organization in charge of them, like Green Country Adult-Teen Challenge (1701 S Main St).
When the bin becomes a haven for garbage and leftover couches, it becomes a problem for the property owner—often an innocent bystander that thought they were helping out the less fortunate. A now-removed bin that sat near the Pop Shoppe convenience store at the corner of Hickory and Taft Ave got to be such a problem that it caught the attention of the city inspector, who told the owner he needed to get it cleaned up or risk facing a fine. The store owner, upon finding out they were liable for someone else’s garbage, had the bin removed.
In addition, the organizations responsible for collecting these donations aren’t always legitimate, either. At committee meetings discussing the issue, city officials have said that on some occasions, when they try to call the number on the bin about their overflowing containers, the number is no longer in service. At that point too, the bin becomes the property owner’s problem.
The City has clarified that this ordinance does not affect Sapulpa’s small “blessing boxes” that can be found in a few neighborhoods and church parking lots, often with canned goods or books inside.
In addition to the donation bins, the City now requires a permit for “charitable solicitations” that utilize street traffic or door-to-door donation collections. Organizations that solicit donations from drivers at intersections or canvas neighborhoods will now need to submit an application explaining not only how the funds will be used but providing a description of the philanthropic work the organization did in the preceding year.
