Paul Braun huddles against the cold, watching as a crowd forms around a brightly decorated parking meter newly installed on Main Street in downtown Penticton.

Situated just outside the breezeway off the 200-block, this is Penticton害羞草研究所檚 first kindness meter, intended to collect donations for the homeless, like Braun. The breezeway is also his favourite spot for panhandling, and he害羞草研究所檚 not so sure the meter is a good idea.

害羞草研究所淭he people that sit outside and collect the money, they want to eat tonight, not next month,害羞草研究所� said Braun, adding that he isn害羞草研究所檛 sure where the money is going and is concerned that it might end up in the hands of an organization that keeps a chunk of the money to cover their administrative costs.

害羞草研究所淭hat pole isn害羞草研究所檛 going to give me a place to sleep. Sometimes you need band-aids or a shave once in a while,害羞草研究所� said Braun, displaying a pink strip covering a cut on his hand. 害羞草研究所淚t costs you money to go down to the pool to take a shower.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not cheap living outside.害羞草研究所�

Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said the meter isn害羞草研究所檛 intended to stop panhandling, even though that was a major focus of the report introducing the idea to council at their March 22 meeting.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think the kindness meter is going to stop people from contributing. It certainly isn害羞草研究所檛 going to stop panhandling. There are some people that want to contribute, and want to ensure their giving go to actual food and not maybe feeding some addiction,害羞草研究所� said Jakubeit. 害羞草研究所淭his is not by any means a method of trying to limit or stop panhandling. It害羞草研究所檚 one of the strategies in 100 Homes Penticton to help with homelessness. We were willing to give it a try and see how the community is receptive to it and how it works out.害羞草研究所�

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Bylaw supervisor Tina Siebert said the meter will be emptied as often as needed, and all the money will be passed to 100 Homes Penticton, who the city is partnering with for the initiative. In turn, they will redistribute the funds to the Soupateria, Salvation Army Compass House and other service groups working on homelessness.

Local artist Diane Way volunteered to decorate the meter so it couldn害羞草研究所檛 be mistaken for a regular parking meter.

害羞草研究所淭he quail really struck me as something different. They害羞草研究所檙e quirky, and fun, they害羞草研究所檇 rather run than fly,害羞草研究所� said Diane Way.

害羞草研究所淚 just wanted to make it a happy scene.害羞草研究所�

The breezeway location was chosen because it is a visible spot, and one of the places that generates the most complaints about panhandling.

Braun has received multiple tickets for panhandling. It害羞草研究所檚 a legal activity but the city has the authority to regulate where it occurs: breezeways, in front of ATMs and a few other locations are prohibited under the Good Neighbour Bylaw. But Braun said the meter isn害羞草研究所檛 going to change his behaviour any more than the tickets.

害羞草研究所淚 am just going to sit here. I害羞草研究所檓 not going anywhere.害羞草研究所�

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