Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit deposits some change into the city's first kindness meter, Thursday, March 30, 2017, as Coun. Helena Konanz, left, and Brain Injury Society executive director Linda Sankey, right, look on. Steve Arstad

Kindness meter starts collecting coins for the homeless

PENTICTON – Penticton's first kindness meter was unveiled this afternoon.

The colourful meter, placed in front of the Main Street 200 block breezeway, takes public donations for distribution to various city groups working with the city’s homeless population.

The location of the meter is strategic, in that it was placed in a location frequented by panhandlers

Today’s unveiling, March 30, is the result of council’s recent approval to place the meter in the downtown location for a one year trial period.

Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says the meter isn’t intended to stop panhandling, rather it was part of a strategy to provide more support for homeless service groups in the community. He expects a report to come forward in the next few months summarizing the meter’s impact onhomelessness.

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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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