Real Change?Not Spare Change Campaign Announced By Downtown Raleigh Alliance

Published December 20, 2010

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) March 17, 2004

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) has announced the kickoff of the Real ChangeÂ?Not Spare Change campaign to address the perceived panhandling problem in downtown Raleigh. This campaign educates Raleigh residents that giving money to panhandlers often just feeds drug and alcohol addiction. Instead, citizens can focus on the positive alternatives such as donating to the Raleigh Rescue Mission, The Healing Place, The Salvation Army, or a charity of their choice, which will provide food, shelter, rehabilitation, and other assistance to those in need. The campaign supplies posters for store owners, businesses, and other organizations to educate citizens, as well as offering helpful homeless services resource guides and tips for handling panhandlers that are distributed by the DRAÂ?s Safety Patrol & Clean Team.

Â?RaleighÂ?s crime rate dropped 25.02% last year, making downtown the safest place in RaleighÂ?yet people often still feel unsafe. In a recent survey, citizens ranked reducing the number of panhandlers as the number one suggestion for improving safety in downtown. Residents need to know that giving money to charitable organizations is the solution and giving money to panhandlers only adds to the problem,Â? said Margaret Mullen, President and CEO of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance is a non profit organization comprised of individuals, associations, corporations, and partnerships who want to improve Downtown Raleigh. This leadership organization is focused on the revitalization of Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina and serves as a clearinghouse and advocacy group for all issues affecting downtown. The organization also sponsors the Bicycle Safety Patrol and Sidewalk Cleanup Programs. For more information, please call 832-1231 or visit the website at www.downtownraleigh.org.

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Patty Briguglio (919) 461-3831 Margaret Mullen (919) 832-1231

Patty Briguglio

MMI Associates, Inc.

North Carolina:

122 Ravenna Way, Suite 100

Cary, NC 27513

919/ 461-3831

Arizona:

7150 N. 16th Street, Suite 100

Phoenix, AZ 85020

602/ 430-4421