Chris Lowrey
SHAWVILLE Sept. 27 , 2017
At least once per week, Giant Tiger supervisor Francine Evans has to empty the garbage left in the food donation bin for Bouffe Pontiac.
The blue food donation bin at Shawville’s Giant Tiger sits right beside the sliding doors that lead outside.
Much of the garbage is in the form of small pieces of plastic or receipts, but Evans said it still sends the wrong message.
“It actually stops people from putting food donations in it when they see garbage in it,” she said.

The bin, although small, is clearly labelled as a food donation bin for Bouffe Pontiac. The food bank aims to give Pontiac residents access to healthy food. Bouffe Pontiac provides food to anywhere from 500 to 700 people per month.
The food bank also spends between $50,000 and $70,000 per year to supplement the food donations they receive via donations with additional staples to make sure its patrons get nutritious meals.
As for Evans, she said she keeps an eye on the bin when she can, but sometimes it fills up before she gets a chance to empty it.
“We don’t always notice it,” she said.
Evans said this could deter people from putting food in the bin if they see garbage in it. She also said that people will use the bin as a garbage regardless of what’s in it.
“I’ve seen it where there’s food in it and they still throw garbage in it,” Evans said. “They don’t read the sign, they just think it’s a blue box.”
Although emptying the bin has become a part of her regular routine, Evans said it’s still frustrating when she sees people throw their garbage in a donation bin for a food bank.
“When there’s a donation in it, I get upset,” she said. “If you see cans in it, why would you throw your garbage in it?”