Hoboken, United Way Roll Out Homeless ‘Donation Meters’

HOBOKEN, NJ — The City of Hoboken’s new Homeless Task Force is trying a new way of raising funds to aid local residents in need of a helping hand: “donation meters.”

Earlier this week, Mayor Ravi Bhalla, the Hoboken Homelessness Task Force and young activists including “Super Satya” unveiled eight new homelessness donation meters located across the city. The new meters – which allow people to make a direct donation via credit card – were placed in “strategic locations”:

• Hudson Place (PATH)
• Newark Street and Hudson Street (Starbucks)
• Washington Street and First (City Hall)
• Washington Street and Third (McDonald’s)
• Willow Ave, b/w Third and Fourth (CarePoint)
• Fifth Ave and Park Ave (Church Square Park, across from the Public Library)
• Madison Street and Tenth Street (Shop Rite)
• Sinatra Drive North and 14th Street (14th Street Ferry)

According to city officials, 100% of the donations collected by the new meters will be administered by the United Way, and will “directly benefit Hoboken homelessness initiatives.”

City officials stated:

“The meters were installed at no cost to Hoboken taxpayers, as the actual meters were provided free of charge by IPS Group, the poles donated by Hudson Pride, and Print Hoboken donating the stickers with instructions on the meters. The meters currently accept credit cards as the primary method of payment. Residents and visitors can text “GIVE” to 201-733-4196 to donate directly to the Hoboken Shelter, and instructions for this texting option can be found directly on each meter. Every $2 donated to the Hoboken shelter funds one meal.”

The new donation meters garnered several positive responses online.

“This is amazing,” one commenter wrote. “Great to see these donation meters across town.”

However, some residents questioned the efficiency of the new meters.

“While I applaud the effort this is such a dated way of soliciting donations,” one person charged. “Many apps let a credit card payer round up to give to charity now. Think about doing it that way, using technology. Who is all going to take their change and put in these meters that don’t add much aesthetically to the town. Was a feasibility study done? Our school children collect change at school and donate. Don’t compete with that. It would have been much more effective if the city had helped to promote the fundraiser for the Hoboken Shelter last night. A lot of money raised from kind and generous donors and every penny goes to feed the homeless.”

• See related article: Here's How Hoboken's New Task Force Will Attack Homelessness
• See related article: Help Homeless Hudson County Residents During Cold Weather, Police Chief Says

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Photos: City of Hoboken