GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The shelters in Green Bay are busy this time of year, and are always in need of donations. But the police and others are asking those making donations, to do so properly.
Earlier this month the Green Bay Police Department made a Facebook post saying they’re seeing an increase of items and leftovers being left at St. John’s Park. Intended to be donations for the homeless, many things are instead left in the cold and soiled.
The problem is costing the City’s Parks Department time and resources.
“Our park crews actually come and we have to spend our staff time actually cleaning up which of course pulls away from other resources that we’re using at other places,” said James Andersen, deputy director for Green Bay Park, Recreation, and Forestry.
“The police department and the parks department are the ones coordinating the cleanup.”
Andersen tells FOX 11 people with the intentions to donate, need to do so properly at the several shelters across the city instead of the park.
“There’s nobody here during this time of the season to actually coordinate any kind of, so if anyone drops it off here it’s just going to stay here and unfortunately it’s just going to probably get ruined or not utilized or not utilize the way its intended to be by the people that are donating.”
Both the St. John’s Shelter and the New Community Shelter say dropping off donations could be as easy as just ringing the doorbell.
“If you ring a doorbell one of our volunteers inside will answer he phone or come and meet you to take, accept your donation,” said Steve Schauer, community engagement director for St. John’s Homeless Shelter.
“We take donations Monday through Friday from nine to four.”
If you can’t make the drive over to the New Community Shelter, Jack Mellberg, Program Director at the shelter, tells FOX 11 there are other ways to have your items donated.
“We also have an outreach case worker that goes out in the community she goes out and takes those things like heavy blankets, jackets, wool jackets, whatever people need and she’ll make sure those are distributed as well,” said Jack Mellberg, program director for New Community Shelter.
Both shelters are looking for new, or gently used winter gear.
For a full list of donations in need for St. John’s Homeless Shelter click here.
For a full list of donations in need for New Community Shelter click here.
