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State Tells Local Charity To Stop Fundraising Until It Registers

Cease and desist
AP
/
AP

A State College organization that offers daytime shelter for the homeless has received a notice to stop fundraising.

Hearts for Homeless is tucked in the lower level of a building near the corner of Fraser Street and College Avenue. Inside, homeless people have a place to go during the day and find help getting connected to services.

But, that organization did not register with the state as required under the act that covers fundraising for charity. Now, the Department of State has issued an order to Hearts for Homeless to stop fundraising in Pennsylvania until it does register with the state.

If it doesn’t comply, it could be fined $1,000 for each violation plus $100 a day for each day the violation continues.

A Pennsylvania Department of State spokeswoman said the department tries to help an organization come into compliance before issuing one of these cease-and-desist orders.

The goal of the law is to protect the public by requiring organizations to say who is doing the fundraising and where the money is going. Certain organizations, such as fire companies, are exempt.

The executive director of Hearts for Homeless declined to comment.

Anne Danahy has been a reporter at WPSU since fall 2017. Before crossing over to radio, she was a reporter at the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pennsylvania, and she worked in communications at Penn State. She is married with cats.