Potty Stand is Weirdest Donation This Salvation Army Trailer Attendant Has Ever Accepted

Gene Leighman, a 61-year-old Salvation Army trailer attendant at Lowe's in New Tampa, has seen his share of weird donations.

Used dog cages and dog bowls are near the top of the list, but they aren't the strangest.

"I had a guy drop off a potty stand with poop still in it," Leighman said.

As disgusting as that sounds, most any donation is accepted, Leighman said.

"If I can get it in the trailer, I'll take it," he said. "I think if you take something trashy, maybe next time it'll be real nice."

On Wednesday, Leighman helped do-gooders load their donations into The Salvation Army's trailer at Lowe's in Tampa Palms. Between donations, he sat in an office chair in the shade created by the trailer and worked on a crossword puzzle book.

"We get donations all the way to Temple Terrace," he said.

Leighman's trailer is one of 10 in the Tampa area. There's another in New Tampa at Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church across from Walmart.

"We collect donations, and we take them to the center over on Nebraska (Avenue)," Leighman said.

From there, items are distributed to stores all over Tampa, he said.

Drivers are available to pick up donations from homes, he added. Call 1-800-SA-TRUCK for more information.

The Salvation Army trailer at Lowe's operates Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Leighman, of Lutz, is there every day but Tuesday.