Marysville is a truly caring community. That’s a wonderful thing, of course. But when people on the street or outside the store ask you for cash, I urge you not to open your wallet. Panhandlers can take advantage of your kindness.

Police report that people with addiction problems often use cash donations to buy drugs or alcohol.

When cash donations are used for this purpose, we all lose. The community has to deal with the cleanup of used needles, empty containers and other debris.

As word gets out that certain street corners bring in a lot of cash, those feeding addictions begin to come from other communities and set up shop here.

Finally, these cash donations enable users to continue in their lifestyle right here in Marysville instead of being forced to seek true assistance that might help put them on a path to recovery.

Certainly, not everyone uses the money they get from panhandling for drugs and alcohol, but you cannot know how a stranger will spend your cash.

If you feel compelled to hand something out the window, I urge you to make it a gift card to a local restaurant to make it less likely that your well-meaning generosity will be used for alcohol or drugs.

You can ensure that your money will provide items essential for people’s survival by donating instead to organizations that offer concrete assistance – like food, clothing or shelter – to those in need.

Though it’s by no means a complete list, here are a few local programs for your consideration:

•Marysville Community Food Bank – provides food to the needy on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m. 4150 88th St. N.E. www.marysvillefoodbank.org, 360-658-1054.

•Marysville Community Lunch – from 1 to 2 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Evergreen Unitarian Fellowship, 1607 Fourth St. marysvillecommunitylunch@gmail.com

•Salvation Army – Feeds about 100 hungry people each week; breakfast food donations especially needed. 7227 44th Ave. N.E. www.marysville.salvationarmy.org, 360-926-2228

•Seeds of Grace Food Bank – food distribution on Saturday mornings, 9-10 a.m., 7302 44th Ave. N.E., Suite B2. ac3.org/#/compassion-outreach, 360-659-7335 x212.

•St. Joseph’s House – clothing bank for families and individuals. Open Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon, 1925 4th St. www.saintjosephshouse.org, 360-651-8246

Three years ago, Marysville introduced a “Keep the Change” campaign.

You may have seen signs around town saying, “Don’t Support Panhandling. Give to a Local Charity.”

While it is certainly not my place to tell you where and how to donate your money, I believe it’s important to point out the negative impacts our community experiences from cash gifts to certain panhandlers.

Please consider other options and channel your generosity where it will do the most good.

Jon Nehring is the mayor of Marysville. His column runs monthly.