Donation bins pop onto councillor’s radar

Chatham Counc. Michael Bondy will introduce a motion Monday night to have city staff examine whether Chatham-Kent needs a bylaw regulating donation bins for charities and non-profits groups.

Bondy said he’s been approached by representatives from a number of groups regarding bin placement and said council needs to learn more before it makes any decision.

“I was approached by a local person who asked if I would place a donation bin for the Canadian Community Support Foundation (CCSF) at my business because it was going to benefit a local cause,” he said. “I agreed, but then heard conflicting reports, so I called the CCSF and got a recording which didn’t even give me an option to leave a message. The next thing I knew, the bin was gone.”

Bondy said his business (Bondy’s Dry Cleaners) has always been there for local causes.

“We’ve helped with Operation Cover Up for years and like most local businesses, we do a lot behind the scenes,” he said. “I just want to know how a donation bin on my property is going to help.”

The CCSF has been listed as a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the past year, but has no record on file, a fact that isn’t unusual, according to CRA spokesman Philippe Brideau.

“Charities have until six months after the close of their fiscal year to file information with us, so we have no concerns at this time,” he said.

Phone calls to the CCSF toll-free number received a recording with no option to leave a message. Reached through its Facebook site, the group said it is preparing a response to questions concerning its local operation.

Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre executive director Hal Bushey said his group is in the process of finalizing an agreement to become the CCSF’s primary working partner.

The issue of a donation box bylaw was brought forth by Kevin Smith, Goodwill Industries’ CEO for Essex, Kent and Lambton.

Smith made bylaw requests to Windsor city council as well as Chatham-Kent council due to his concerns about CCSF’s role in the community. He said he has been told bins are being placed on property without the consent of owners.

“I know groups such as the Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul, Bibles for Mission and the Canadian Diabetes Association do work within the community and more power to them,” he said. “It’s donor choice and that’s as it should be. I have an issue when see this group with boxes all over town, but we can’t find out who they are or what they do.”

Smith said Ottawa has enacted a bylaw and Sarnia’s Chamber of Commerce has told members that they should treat placement of any unapproved donation bins as an act of trespassing to avoid liability concerns.