NO DUMPING GROUNDS: SALVATION ARMY SEEKS COOPERATION

After-hours dumping is costing the Salvation Army valuable staff time and money, and is creating an eyesore, said Army Major Robert Gauthier.

The Salvation Army operates a thrift store at 610 Independence. People are dumping donations of clothing, furniture and other items in front of the loading dock at the store rather than delivering the items during regular store hours.

Gauthier said cleaning up the debris and making trips to the landfill mean staff have less time to pick up donations during the day. The average $40 to $60 or more being spent daily on dumping fees also takes away from money that could be assisting stranded travelers and others in need, he said.

"It makes our overhead high, which means we have less money to spend to help people in need," said Gauthier. "Instead of taking the items to the dump they end up dropping them off at the Salvation Army, and then we have to pay the dump fees."

Problems with after-hours drop-offs aren't new. The thrift store has been in operation some 20 years, including 14 years at the corner of Sprigg and Morgan Oak streets and two at the current site.

Many of the dumped items are in poor shape to begin with and could not be accepted, Gauthier said. Others are usable but are ruined after sitting in bad weather overnight or entire weekends. And wet merchandise -- especially mattresses and furniture -- costs more to dump because of the additional weight.

"I would feel ashamed to even try and give that to someone needing assistance," said Gauthier of an old sofa missing cushions and a leg that had been dumped overnight Tuesday. "Even though our customers are needy, they deserve to be treated just like anyone else and go shopping for good merchandise."

In the past, the Salvation Army was able to reupholster and otherwise repair furniture. However, "The economy doesn't allow us to do that, and in a small center like ours it's even more of a problem," he said.

Gauthier said the dumping takes place year-round but is lightest between February and April. While the dumping is a problem, there are also problems created when people rummage through the items, leaving clothing and other donations strewn across the parking lot.

"We want to clean it up so it doesn't become an eyesore for the community," said Gauthier. "You can come by here at night and they'll be going through the stuff like crazy. I'd bet if we went to many of the neighborhood yard sales we'd find a lot of items that had been dropped off at the store."

Efforts have been made to curb after-hours donations. Large signs were posted detailing a no-drop-off policy after hours. The sign further indicates the area is under surveillance and that the store will prosecute offenders.

Cape Girardeau police Sgt. Carl Kinnison said no one has complained to the police about trash or dumping at the thrift store. However, because the store has posted signs indicating they do not accept donations after hours, people caught dumping or rummaging through materials could be prosecuted.

"It becomes at least littering and possibility even trespassing," Kinnison said.

Rick James, who owns the barber shop next door to the thrift store, said he has noticed the overnight drop-offs but thought they would be welcomed at the store.

"It probably does make more work for them and harder to keep tabs on what's being brought in and going out, but it's the Salvation Army," James said. "They should have something outside where people can leave stuff outside. A fence and gate might help.".