Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Beats Begging

Marc the Litter Guy needed money to pay the rent but he didn't want to panhandle.

So the 30-year-old got some garbage bags and put a sign on his back saying he was cleaning the city for donations.


He needed to make my own job, so He thought He'd go around and clean the streets. He wears a sign -- it tells what He's doing and asks for donations -- but He doesn't ask for money verbally, He leaves it up to people," He has been picking up about 80 bags of garbage a day for the past 11 months.

He was struggling to get work as a day labourer and was tired of lining up at 4:30 a.m every day looking for a job that wasn't there.

UP TO $10 AN HOUR

can make as much as $10 an hour.

He has some specific areas where he works, and it's not uncommon for businesses to donate garbage bags and give him a few bucks to clean up their areas.

He is talking to faculty at the University of Toronto about starting a pilot project, where panhandlers could meet at the university and then disperse with garbage bags to different locales.

He thinks this is a viable option for panhandlers and it is good for the city.

It is commonplace for many panhandlers to stake
out the same corner every day to beg for money.

"I think this guy has a great idea.

DOESN'T BOTHER PEOPLE

"Here you have a guy who doesn't bother people
and he gives back. I wouldn't mind giving my change
to him."

In response to complaints about panhandlers, the city
is looking into whether downtown beggars who are not
homeless need help in making use of social programs.

The executive committee has met with restaurant and
other business owners who are frustrated with panhandlers
on downtown streets.

The committee unanimously voted to launch a pilot project
-- from July 3 to Sept. 17 -- which will include meetings
between senior officials and businesses to find ways of
addressing the panhandling problem.

He picks up over 80 bags a day for donations.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

that is awesome! I wish the guys standing on all the street corners here would pick up trash instead of leaving it! I would give them money then.

fuzzbert_1999@yahoo.com said...

Well, that's just pretty dang cool!

Good post.

Kid Mecca said...

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