Sound The Trumpet : Nonprofit Says It Was Threatened With Arrest for Feeding Raleigh Homeless

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“Nonprofit Says It Was Threatened With Arrest for Feeding Raleigh Homeless”
by wral.com
August 27th, 2013

A spokesman for the Raleigh Police Department says a police officer was enforcing a city ordinance when he reportedly told, without explanation, a group of volunteers Saturday that they could be arrested for serving breakfast to the homeless.

Love Wins Ministries posted on its website Saturday that the officer approached them as they were preparing to pass out free coffee and sausage biscuits to more than 70 homeless people in downtown Raleigh.

“This morning we showed up at Moore Square at 9:00 a.m., just like we have done virtually every Saturday and Sunday for the last six years,” the ministry’s pastor and director, Rev. Hugh Hollowell, wrote in a blog post. “Today, officers from Raleigh Police Department prevented us from doing our work, for the first time ever. An officer said, quite bluntly, that if we attempted to distribute food, we would be arrested.”

Hollowell said the officers wouldn’t tell the group which ordinance they were violating, but simply told them they had to leave.

Sec. 9-2022 of the rules governing city parks prohibits the distribution of food without a permit.

“No individuals or group shall serve or distribute meals or food of any kind in or on any City park or greenway unless such distribution is pursuant to a permit issued by the Parks, Recreation and Greenway Director,” the ordinance states.

Police spokesman Jim Sughrue said in an email Sunday that no one was arrested and that the group was “simply informed” of the rules, which have been on the books since 1998.

“Work is ongoing with those involved, some of whom are developing alternative sites,” Sughrue said. “Ultimately, the ordinance is a city issue, of course, and when final determinations are made, the police department works with everyone to handle things in the smoothest way possible.”

Love Wins is one of a number of nonprofits who help feed the homeless near Moore Square on weekends.

Todd Pratt, a volunteer with Human Beans Together, said his group was also notified recently that it could no longer serve the homeless on public property. On Sunday, the group moved to a private parking lot across the street from Moore Square, but police also asked them to leave that area.

“We had lots of volunteers and lots of hungry people and nowhere to go,” Pratt said.

William McLaurin, who owns the private lot, allowed the volunteers to stay, but said he was worried about liability issues in the future.

Berrie Alston and Raheen Andrews say they are grateful for meals from volunteers.

“This is the only place that some people can go for a meal,” Alston said. “They are trying to push us out of the park.”

“If the people want to come out and choose to give us some food or anybody some food, why would you stop them?” Andrews asked.

Love Wins and Human Beans say police cited excessive litter in the area on Mondays as a reason for the crackdown, but organizers say they always clean up the mess after serving a meal. They believe the move has to do with the city’s revitalization efforts in the area.

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13