Parking meters accept coins for homeless

Rocky Mountain News

Published March 5, 2007 at midnight

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Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Public Works director Bill Vidal this morning unveiled a retired parking meter that will be used to collect coins for the homeless.

The Donation Meter Project will collect money for Denver’s Road Home, the 10-year Plan to end homelessness.

By dropping a coin in the slot, you don’t get a parking space, but can feel that you’ve contributed to the effort to give help to homeless people.

"The Donation Meter demonstrates yet another innovative way in which this community is responding to Denver's Road Home and our commitment to ending homelessness," Hickenlooper said. "We are fortunate to live in a city where public officials, including Bill Vidal at the Department of Public Works, are willing to work on a project that will substantially increase public awareness and resources for the homeless in Denver."

"The Donation Meters provide a creative way for everyone, even if they only have a nickel, to help."

There will be 35 refurbished and redesigned parking meters placed at various areas throughout downtown so people can easily donate spare change in the effort to end homelessness.

"Denver's Public Works is delighted to be part of this growing community wide effort to end homelessness in Denver," Vidal said. "Starting today with 36 meters, citizens will have a new way to donate to an important cause. Recycling our older meters as donation collection sites is an innovative use of retired equipment."

The donation meter program is part of a widespread effort to redirect the money that people use to give to panhandlers, most of whom are not homeless, into efforts that provide meals, job training, substance abuse counseling, housing and other programs for those in need.

Businesses and individuals around the metro area "sponsored" all 36 meters for $1,000 each.

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