The ones who don’t look like they are trying to avoid interacting with you. For a smaller town there is little enough activity that that will do it. Odds probably still aren’t great this time of year. Most folks won’t be doing a lot of projects right now especially with building supplies still being up. On top of that the whole shortages on random things at the hardware store won’t help.

Beyond that clean up as much as you can. Shane if you’ve got a razor, that kind of thing. Most people already know someone who does that kind of thing if they need it and the person who even slightly resembles the drug addict that’s creeped them out during the night is more likely to trigger that avoidance thing. For the love of all do not walk up to their cars. That is the fastest way to resemble them and trigger the thing that creeps them out. Less people and lower population density so you get more weary of that kind of thing. There’s far less likely to be people around to dissuade the bad apples who you might be afraid to say no to.

I’d seriously put some mention of traveling on your cross on your sign. I spent my childhood and college years in 1 twice that size and I can’t remember ever once seeing a work sign with someone who would actually work. It’s just not a common because it’s usually handled through word of mouth. I’d be far more likely to believe the sign that looks like it’s some young adult cross country traveling.

Also that’s funny that you think 10,000 is the boonies. Nah you gotta shrink it way more then that.