How to Make Money Picking Up Trash in Prince William Co. and Helping Scammers

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – To address panhandling through compassion and action, Prince William County has launched the “Give Where It Counts” campaign aimed at supporting people experiencing homelessness, alongside a new employment and community engagement initiative.

The campaign encourages residents to direct their generosity to local nonprofits that provide essential services such as housing, food assistance, mental health support and job training. This approach ensures that donations provide long-term solutions, not temporary fixes.

“Many people want to help, but direct handouts often do not provide the long-term help that individuals need,” said Deshundra Jefferson, chairwoman of the Board of County Supervisors. “By choosing to donate to nonprofits in our community, we strengthen organizations that can provide real solutions and make a meaningful impact. Let’s make this Giving Tuesday – and every day – a time to “give where it counts.””

In addition to the campaign, the county has proposed a pilot program aimed at engaging fraudsters and those experiencing homelessness in meaningful work that benefits the community. Participants are assigned to clean up trash throughout the county to help clean up the environment while making money.

• Participants work up to 6 hours per week, with shifts on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Compensation is $13 per hour.
• Each participant receives training, equipment, transportation, safety gear and water.
• The program runs for 90 days or until participants reach their performance threshold.
• The first year of the pilot program, scheduled to launch in summer 2024 (July or August), is expected to employ 45 participants.

Scams can net up to $200 per day, but this often fails to address the underlying issues that lead to such situations. Through the Give Where It Counts campaign and pilot employment program, Prince William County hopes to reduce panhandling while equipping individuals with the tools they need to achieve self-sufficiency.

Residents are encouraged to visit pwcva.gov/panhandlinga centralized resource offering:

• A directory of trusted local nonprofit organizations within the Prince William Area Homeless Services Continuum of Care.
• A community toolkit with downloadable posters, flyers and social media materials to raise awareness of the campaign.

The campaign message will be distributed across various channels including social media, streaming services, local malls, buses and even cinemas to ensure broad community engagement.

“We understand there is still work to be done,” Jefferson said. “But this campaign is a strong start. Together we can help make our donations count by supporting the organizations that provide ongoing help to those in need.”