The Champaign Center Partnership and Community Elements in conjunction with the City of Champaign launched the “Make Real Change” program on August 16th. This program aims to bring awareness to the issue of aggressive panhandling in the Downtown and Campustown districts as well as provide donation points enabling the public to “redirect their giving”. The collaboration between the Champaign Center Partnership and Community Elements allows donations given to the meters to assist in funding vital social services targeted at homelessness, primarily the TIMES Center in Downtown Champaign.
The City of Champaign’s role was donation of the used meters and installation of the devices. The City will also collect and audit the meters along with all other meters and make payment to Community Elements.
There are four meters located throughout the Center City. The two meters in Downtown are located at Walnut and Chester Streets and Main and Neil Streets. The two Campustown meters are located on Sixth Street between Green and John Streets and at Green and Wright Streets.
For more information please visit RealChangecu.org.
