Some drivers in Johnson County in latest days say they’ve noticed teams of individuals at main intersections asking for donations which can be supposedly to assist pay for well being care for kids with life-threatening diseases.

Studies started popping up on social media final week, with some customers posting footage of a few of the individuals who have been asking for donations.

It’s not clear if the causes for which the individuals are searching for donations are reputable, however a few of their signage seems to match indicators utilized by teams in South Carolina that authorities there have labeled as scammers.

Drivers in Johnson County who’ve reported seeing these teams have mentioned they’re asking for donations for kids who want life-saving drugs, similar to a bone marrow transplants or most cancers remedies.

These social media experiences say the individuals are usually sporting reflective vests and holding up professional-looking indicators.

The folks have been reportedly noticed at some main intersections, together with I-435 and Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park and 75th Road and Nieman Street in Shawnee. They’ve additionally been reportedly seen in different cities within the Kansas Metropolis metro, together with Lee’s Summit and Independence.

A Shawnee Mission Publish reporter who went out driving on a number of days this week to a few of the intersections at which the teams had been reportedly seen didn’t encounter them.

Officer John Lacy, a spokesperson for the Overland Park Police Division, mentioned that so long as the teams keep on the facet of the street on public property, they’re allowed to be there.

“We can’t kick them off property or something like that as a result of it’s freedom of speech,” Lacy mentioned. “Nonetheless, what we will do, we will simply do a test for welfare.”

If people do enterprise onto the median, Lacy mentioned Overland Park Police are allowed to ask them to relocate.

Pedestrians standing in medians has been within the information in Johnson County earlier than: the town of Merriam handed an ordinance final yr that prohibits pedestrians from standing in medians at 9 of its main intersections, a transfer interpreted by some critics as a method for cracking down on homeless folks asking for cash.

Whereas the Publish was unable to verify with any native police division concerning the legitimacy of those donation-seekers, some social media customers have drawn hyperlinks to a reported rip-off in South Carolina.

Dana Wright, a speak present host on 980 KMBZ, in contrast the picture of an individual seen asking for donations close to 75th and Nieman in Shawnee, with what seemed to be a photograph of the identical little one that was utilized in a donation rip-off in North Charleston, S.C., in Might.

How large is the problem? Although there are numerous experiences from drivers on social media, native police departments in Johnson County say they’ve obtained both few or no calls concerning the scenario.

Each Overland Park and Leawood police departments mentioned they haven’t logged any calls particularly about donation seekers.

As of final Thursday, Main Jim Baker with the Shawnee Police Division mentioned that they had obtained some calls regarding the scenario, however the donation seekers have been gone by the point officers arrived on scene.

Beneath are some suggestions supplied by native legislation enforcement on how drivers can method and work together with folks asking for donations at intersections:

• Public Data Officer Brad Robbins of Leawood Police advisable doing analysis earlier than donating to any trigger, as credible organizations like United Means or Harvesters have web sites with accountings on how the cash they acquire is spent.
• Officer Lacy in Overland Park mentioned that as an alternative of giving cash, you may present present playing cards for objects like meals, so you know the way the cash is being spent.
• As a substitute of straight giving cash to donation-seekers on the road, Lacy advisable residents donate to respected organizations and easily direct these asking for assist to these charities.

“Individuals will at all times inform me that they really feel responsible for not handing them cash or something like that,” Lacy mentioned. “In the event that they ask for something, simply say ‘I’ve already given to the Salvation Military,’ and also you received’t really feel responsible. At all times ship cash to a good basis.”
This story was initially printed on the Shawnee Mission Publish.