Women's shelter donation bins to be scrapped after repeated thefts, harassment

Women In Crisis will no longer accept donations of used clothing, toys and books following a number of thefts and incidents of harassment at its donation bins on Oakland Avenue. 

Communications and Administration Coordinator Erin Lodge tells SooToday that there have been a number of incidences where donors have encountered people waiting behind the bins, presumably looking to rifle through new donations for the women’s shelter. 

“People know about the bins, and they’re coming to steal from us all the time, and it creates a whole other set of issues,” she said. 

The way Women In Crisis tells it, the shelter has seen its fair share of trouble since the bins were installed at the shelter last year, resulting in numerous calls to police. 

And now, the shelter has had enough. 

“People are climbing into the bins and they pull everything out, and everything is strewn all over the parking lot, and all over the church [property] adjacent to us,” said Lodge. “We’ve had people that have been outside the bins waiting when the Kidney Foundation comes to do a pick-up, and they’re screaming at the drivers.” 

“It’s just been an unsafe situation for our staff, as they’re having to deal with these sorts of incidents that continuously happen.” 

The Kidney Foundation takes the contents of the shelter’s donation bins, weighs those contents, and credits a portion of the donations back to Women In Crisis. 

The money that goes back to Women In Crisis is then used by the organization in order to purchase basic necessities for people who use the shelter. 

People are encouraged to drop off Women in Crisis donations at the Kidney Foundation depot, located at 424 Pim St. 

Pick-ups can also be arranged for those donations. 

Donations of used toys, books and clothing should clearly be addressed to Women In Crisis. 

“They can drop it off directly at the Kidney Foundation depot on Pim Street, or they can actually call the Kidney Foundation, and they’ll do pick-ups,” Lodge said.  

In the meantime, larger donations - such as furniture, cookware and linens - can still be brought directly to the shelter at 23 Oakland Avenue, where the items will be stored securely on-site. 

“They’ll have to call ahead and make arrangements, and then ring the doorbell when they come,” said Lodge. “Then we can store it safely in the shelter and in our storage shed.”

Here’s how to get in touch with the Kidney Foundation depot: 

Address: 424 Pim St, Unit B  Sault Ste. Marie

Telephone: 705-945-1030 or 1-800-414-3484

Email: [email protected]

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Donations: Drop off donations during regular office hours.