Alabama pastor told to stop feeding homeless, ‘food truck permit’ is required
An Alabama pastor has run into some red tape after authorities ask him to stop feeding the homeless until he acquires the $500 food truck permit required in a new ordinance passed in the community.
Pastor Rick Wood from Lord’s House of Prayer in Oneonta, Ala., has been feeding the homeless for the past six years, delivering bottles of water and hot dogs to homeless people in the area.
In March, the city informed Wood that he needed to halt the mission and he needed to comply with a new ordinance that regulates food trucks, detailed Think Progress.
“I’m just so totally shocked that the city is turning their back on the homeless like this,” he told ABC 33/40. “It’s like they want to chase them out of the city. And the homeless can’t help the position they’re in. They need help.”
The ordinance is specifically targeted at retail food vendors, rather than charities, the city nevertheless used it to block Wood, Think Progress noted.
He was livid. “That makes me so mad,” Wood said in an interview with ABC 33/40 News. “These people are hungry. They’re starving. They need help from people. They can’t afford to buy something from a food truck.”
Photo is a screenshot from the great coverage by ABC, so check it out HERE
[…] Alabama pastor stopped from handing out food, needs “food truck permit” […]
There is actually an update on this situation. I have been in contact with the Church personally and am holding a fundraiser for them. You can check out all of the updated information on the page. It’s toward the bottom of the page as well as the update section.
http://www.youcaring.com/help-a-neighbor/help-feed-the-homeless-and-help-transportation-church-/164425
Thanks for the update Melissa