Blue clothing and shoe donation boxes have been showing up around Lake Charles, but the Better Business Bureau says residents should be careful before putting anything inside.
The boxes are labeled “clothing & shoes donation center,” according to KPLC. The station reported that they have appeared near Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken on Lake Street, near Market Basket on Lake and Country Club, and near Small’s Sliders on McNeese Street.
KPLC said its crews spotted several others around the city.
The BBB of Southwest Louisiana told the station the boxes are not affiliated with any reputable charity, and at least one property owner said permission was never given for a box to be placed there.
Local Charities Say The Boxes Are Not Theirs
KPLC checked with several local organizations, and they denied owning the bins.
Jeremy Babineaux, an associate pastor at Water’s Edge, told the station the boxes do not belong to the church. Libby Leone, executive director of CARC, also said they do not belong to CARC and said any CARC donation box would have its logo and contact information.
Catholic Charities and United Way also denied ownership, according to KPLC.
Angela Guth, president of the BBB of Southwest Louisiana, told the station that people should donate to a reputable charity, church, or organization they choose. She said donation receptacles are required to have the name of the organization accepting the donations.
An Email On The Boxes Did Not Answer The Main Question
KPLC contacted the email address printed on the boxes and received a response from someone who apologized for any inconvenience and said the boxes could be moved if they were causing problems for the city.
When the station asked how the donated items would be used, the person replied that clothing, shoes, and toys were collected, sorted, and sent to countries in need, including Cuba, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
KPLC said it then asked whether the organization is a charity and whether it had permission to place the boxes around town. The station reported that it did not receive a response to those questions.
That leaves donors without the information they would normally expect from a legitimate charity collection point: who is collecting the items, how to contact the organization, and whether the donations support a charity or a commercial operation.
Property Owners Are Also Trying To Remove Them
A realtor in charge of the Lake Street property told KPLC that the owner did not give permission for a box to be placed there.
KPLC reported that some property owners are taking steps to have the boxes removed. Guth said shopping center and strip mall owners should contact their property managers to remove unauthorized bins immediately.
Louisiana law also addresses donation receptacles used by people who are not affiliated with or acting on behalf of a charitable organization. The law requires a clear label saying the donations support a commercial business, naming that business, and stating that donations do not qualify as charitable contributions for tax purposes.
For donors, the safer move is simple: take clothing, shoes, and toys directly to a known local nonprofit, church, shelter, thrift store, or staffed donation center. The Federal Trade Commission also advises consumers to search a charity’s name with terms such as “complaint,” “review,” “rating,” “fraud,” or “scam” before giving.
Until the group behind the Lake Charles boxes is clearly identified, the BBB’s advice is to use a donation option donors already know and trust.