ELGIN (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Elgin police are asking people to stop dropping food, clothing, and other items for the homeless in a downtown park.
Police Sgt. Rick Demierre said, “A lot of people want to give, and that’s awesome. It’s a great thing to want to give to those in need.”
But he said it can cause problems.
The city had issues with the homeless gathering in Carleton Rogers Park last summer.
Now, signs have gone up in the park, suggesting that those who want to help should donate to Wayside Cross Ministries, which will evenly distribute items to the homeless.
Demierre said on WRMN Radio’s Friday with the Fuzz show, a woman recently dropped off six bags of food. The couple homeless people in the park rummaged through it, took what they wanted, and tossed the rest.
The Elgin Police Department wants to stress “the importance of distributing (donations) to the right place so it ends up in everyone’s hands, instead of an individual person, or someone just at the park...Wayside Center is a big help, because they distribute it evenly and make sure everyone gets it.”
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