It's not the way people usually deal with panhandlers, but Grand Chute town Chairman Dave Schowalter thinks his custom-made sign has worked to help curb the problem.
"I just had to figure out a way that I could tell the public how bad it is around the Fox River Mall," he said.
Schowalter's sign reads, "Beware: some panhandlers are fraudulent." He stands near panhandlers around the Fox River Mall holding the sign to warn the community, he said. He used it this past weekend, and someone snapped a picture that has since gone viral.
"They have a right to stand on the median, unfortunately so do I," he explained.
Panhandling has gotten worse at the mall over the past year, according to Grand Chute police.
"Not every panhandler is trying to deceive people," said Grand Chute Police Chief Greg Peterson. "There are people out there who I think have a real need, but unfortunately we've seen far too many instances of this type of deception."
Both Schowalter and police offer help to panhandlers in the form of community services or even job offers, they said.
"This is a community rich with services for people who are in need," said Peterson. "So what we've tried to do is connect those people to those community services."
However, some panhandlers don't want the help, they said.
"They don't want anything to do except get free money from people that feel sorry for them, and that is to me fraudulent and it's totally wrong," said Schowalter.
Business owners and concerned citizens have called Schowalter to complain about panhandlers, which was part of the reason he decided to get the sign. For the most part, he's received positive feedback for it, he said.
Panhandling is not illegal, so police said they can't do anything unless the panhandler is aggressive. Grand Chute does not have an ordinance against panhandling, and will not pursue one because it could potentially face a lawsuit for violating free speech, according to Schowalter.
