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Signs placed in Fort Smith urge residents to donate to nonprofits instead of panhandlers

The community can text FORT to 91999 and donate to local nonprofits serving the unhoused population.

FORT SMITH, Ark. — Spanish version: Para español haga click aqui.

The City of Fort Smith encourages residents to not give money directly to panhandlers and instead, donate to nonprofits serving the city's unsheltered. 

Texting FORT to 91999 will give you the option to donate to Community Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, Hope Campus, and Next Step Homeless Services. 100% of donations will go to these organizations. 

"Fort Smith is a generous community. They want to give, they want to help people out, and we want to give them another avenue to do that" Josh Buchfink, public relations manager for the City of Fort Smith, said. 

Buchfink said this program has been operating under the radar for some time now but on Monday, Jan. 29, the city campaigned for the project with signs and social media posts. He said their idea behind the text initiative was for the community's safety. 

"They're not stopping their car in the middle of the streets," Buchfink said. "We also want to give directly to those nonprofit organizations that can actually stretch those dollars farther than we could just by giving somebody $1 on the street. Many of these organizations offer addiction resources, mental health resources, physical wellness, and health resources. So it's so much more than just food and shelter."

Dr. Kevin Fitzpatrick, a sociology professor at the University of Arkansas who studies homelessness, believes this is a good idea because it's convenient 

"It's an innovative idea, people respond well to electronic solutions, right? It's not drive to this location, and write a check. It's you can text in," Fitzpatrick said.

However, he believes we need to find more innovative ways as not everyone who is panhandling is in need of shelter. 

"There's nothing in the rulebook that says you can only stand on the corner and ask people for help if you're homeless," Fitzpatrick said. "I mean, if your food insecure or housing insecure ... it's certainly within everyone's right to do that. Don't assume that A, everyone is homeless, and B, that if you were to send money to some central pot, that it would somehow trickle down, and person A who's standing on the corner is going to be impacted by that." 

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