Caring meters in Charlottetown ask pedestrians to help make a change

Some pedestrians in Charlottetown may have been doing a double-take at the bright green parking meters scattered throughout the downtown notjustbecause of their arresting colour, but also because they're not in front of actual parking spaces.

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"Make a change in someone's life. No one should need to panhandle," reads asign attached to each meter.

They're an initiative of Downtown Charlottetown Inc., which is asking passersby to put change in the six new caring meters to help those asking for moneyon the street. The donations will be split between The Salvation Army and The Upper Room Hospitality Ministry.

"We're hoping our caring meters will make it easier for people to provide support for those people who truly need it," said DCI President Brian Howatt in a written release Tuesday.

Caring meters have been used successfully in other cities, said DCI.

"The caring meters give people who feel they would like to help panhandlers a way to give with confidence that their money is going directly to help with the food and shelter needs the people on the street are asking for," the release states.

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